Everton's fixtures for the 2023/24 season have been confirmed, with the Toffees hosting Fulham in their Premier League opener.
Last season was a tense one for Everton, with Sean Dyche's side just about securing Premier League safety with a 1-0 win on the final day of the campaign. The Toffees finished just two points away from the relegation zone, and they will be hoping for better fortune in the 2023/24 campaign.
Everton face just one of the so-called 'big six' teams in their opening eight league games before visiting Anfield in the first Merseyside derby of the season on October 21. The toughest period for Dyche's side appears to be between November and December on paper, facing Man United, Newcastle, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City all in the space of seven games.
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So, how could Everton perform in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign? Let's take a look.
To set up this simulation, we used the Football Manager 2023 editor to update the Premier League with the latest teams, transfers and of course, the confirmed fixtures. Using FM23 to run the simulation, we then simulated the entire 2023/24 season to see how the Toffees got on.
Opening game: Everton 2-0 Fulham (August 12, 2023)
Everton got off to the perfect start in the 2023/24 season, picking up three points and a clean sheet against Fulham. Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a brace to secure a 2-0 win over the Cottagers, with Jordan Pickford having a great game in goal.
Biggest win: Everton 4-0 Crystal Palace (February 17, 2024)
February was the best month of the season for the Toffees, with Dyche picking up manager of the month as Everton won three and drew one, including their biggest victory of the campaign. James Tarkowski, Calvert-Lewin, Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi all got on the scoresheet to secure a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in the simulation.
Biggest shock: Manchester City 1-2 Everton (February 10, 2024)
After picking up a shock point away to Man City last season, Everton managed one better in the simulation, beating the Premier League champions 2-1 at the Etihad. After going behind early on, Iwobi and Ellis Simms both scored to claim the three points.
Derby days: Everton vs Liverpool
The Toffees managed to pick up one point out of six against Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the simulation, with the Reds proving the dominant force at Anfield. Demari Gray cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener to draw 1-1 at Goodison Park, but Everton were unable to get anything from the reverse fixture, losing 2-0 at Anfield.
Final game: Arsenal 4-0 Everton (May 19, 2024)
It was a disappointing end to the season for Everton, with Dyche's side falling to a heavy defeat away to Arsenal. An awful first-half showing saw the Gunners go 4-0 up, and it remained that way until the full-time whistle.
2023/24 Premier League final standings:
Everton ended the Premier League campaign very poorly, winning just two of their final 12 games of the season. But, a strong run of results in the middle of the season saw Dyche's side pick up enough points to claim Premier League safety, finishing 13th in the table.
All three promoted teams were relegated, with Burnley picking up 30 points in 18th, 13 points fewer than Everton managed. 12 wins, seven draws and 19 defeats saw Dyche's side earn 43 points, with the Toffees securing safety with a few games remaining.
Overall, according to Football Manager 2023's Premier League simulation for the 2023/24 campaign, Everton could improve on last season, managing seven more points and securing Premier League safety in a much calmer manner. The Toffees struggled with the fixtures at the end of the season, but Dyche's side found their best form around Christmas time.
What do you think of these Everton results for next season? Let us know in the comments below!
