If the future ownership of Everton is a confused picture, there were few doubts about this being a season of struggle. Amid a highly welcome first win of the season were signs a thin squad has enough to survive, and whoever becomes their new owners might have a Premier League going concern on their hands.
Though if Everton are to struggle, on the balance of their comprehensive win, the chances are Brentford, already short of Ivan Toney, now racked by an injury crisis, will be down there too. Though this was a first defeat of the season, home form has deserted them, energy levels failing to deliver the yield of the past two seasons; three points from four matches at the Community Stadium is way under par.
