---
title: "Are Everton Now in the Title Race?"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/are-everton-now-in-the-title-race/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2020-10-21T12:30:17Z"
modified: "2020-10-21T12:30:17Z"
---

# Are Everton Now in the Title Race?

The 2020/21 season is proving to be a promising time to be a Toffee.

Everton’s formidable[run of form](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) of four wins and a draw from five Premier League games has them at the top of the league, and this has led a prominent pundit to make a bold claim surrounding the prospects of Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.

Jamie O’Hara, [speaking to talkSPORT](https://t.co/fbSS9hRmf7) has claimed that Everton are one team that could mount a serious title challenge after Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was ruled out with injury in a 2-2 Merseyside derby draw.

> Twitter: ![?](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.0/svg/1f3c6.svg) “You have to say a Everton are going to be there.”
>
> ![?](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.0/svg/1f62e.svg) “#LFC have lost their best player, that opens up the PL.”… https://t.co/fbSS9hRmf7 (@talkSPORT)

O’Hara highlighted the vulnerability of current Premier League champions Liverpool after they recently confirmed their key central defender would have to [undergo knee surgery](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/412585-virgil-van-dijk-knee-injury-surgery) and would likely be ruled out for much of the season as a result.

This injury of course hampers the prospects of the current champions. The Dutchman has a formidable record of appearances, having played in 95 of the 96 Premier League games Liverpool have had [since he made his debut](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12107820/virgil-van-dijk-liverpool-defender-facing-surgery-and-the-pressure-is-now-on-joe-gomez-and-joel-matip) in January 2018.

Impressively, he played every minute in the 2019/20 season, as they claimed the title for the first time in 30 years.

Liverpool will be forced to have to look to their other options at the heart of defence. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez serve as their primary options as central defensive reinforcements, whilst the Reds also have the options of calling upon young prospects in Sepp van den Berg and Nathaniel Phillips.

Despite this, any guarantees that Everton could compete for the Premier League title is premature.

There can be no denying that promising signs are there – for one, Ancelotti can truly be seen as a world-class manager. [His record speaks for itself](https://www.transfermarkt.com/carlo-ancelotti/erfolge/trainer/523); he has three Champions League cups to his name, winning two with Milan and another with Real Madrid.

He has secured league titles in England, Italy and Germany, and managed further cup success in Spain. If anyone is the man to inject a title-winning mentality and a proven approach, it is Carlo.

Conversely, winning the Premier League is a long-term achievement and herein lies the core problem with O’Hara’s claims – the good form of five games can evaporate as quickly as it begins.

Moreover, Liverpool are not the sole threat to Everton’s ambitions. Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester City are just a handful of clubs that have [heavily invested into their squads](https://www.premierleague.com/transfers). Fighting for a top four place, let alone the title itself, will be a battle fought on a multitude of fronts and over an intense, long-term period.

Consequentially, it is simply disingenuous to label Everton as title challengers at this stage. They retain the potential to fulfil that mantle, but that will be seen in the coming winter months. As the season plays out, so too will Everton’s future become clearer.