Everton have confirmed the appointment of Frank Lampard as the club’s new manager.
Lampard has signed a two-and-a-half year deal to keep him at Goodison Park, and is already getting straight to work.
Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek has been targeted for a loan deal before the deadline, as Lampard looks to shape his squad early doors.
While attention, at first, may be on transfers and what players Lampard can bring to Everton, the focus will soon shift onto the small matter of the matches that are on the horizon.
Everton are battling at the bottom end of the Premier League table, and Lampard’s first job will be to make sure the club steers well clear of the relegation zone.
Plus, the Blues are still in with a shout of winning a major trophy this season with a crucial FA Cup tie on the near horizon.
Here, we take a look at Lampard’s first six games in charge of Everton and how important each of them will be.
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Brentford (H - FA Cup) - February 5
Lampard’s first match will be at home to Brentford in the FA Cup this weekend.
An extra time win over Hull City was needed to reach this stage of the competition, and Lampard will have a chance to soak up the Goodison atmosphere early on.
While Everton may not be near the favourites to win the competition, a cup run in his first few months in the job would see Lampard in the good books straight away.
Newcastle United (A) - February 8
Lampard’s first league fixture sees him take Everton to the cash-strapped Newcastle next week.
Newcastle have been busy in the January transfer window, with several new faces including Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes arriving this month.
Everton are without a win in the league since the victory over Arsenal at the start of December, and Lampard will be keen for that to change at St James’ Park.
Leeds United (H) - February 12
Lampard’s first home Premier League match sees Leeds United come to Goodison in the middle of next month.
The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw back in August, with a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty and Demarai Gray goals securing the point for the Blues.
The new Everton boss will be looking to get league life at Goodison off to a good start with a victory, having had a history of playing Leeds during his days managing Derby County.
Southampton (A) - February 19
A trip to St Marty’s to face Southampton is next on the agenda for Everton in Lampard’s fourth match in charge.
Everton won the reverse fixture at Goodison 3-1 in August, which saw them pick up their first points of the campaign.
By the time this match comes around we’ll have a better idea of how Lampard wants to set his Everton team up and what player’s he’s likely to use or leave out.
Manchester City (H) - February 26
Next for Everton is arguably one of the toughest matches of the season, with Manchester City coming to Goodison.
Lampard will be under no illusions of the difficulty of the task that will be ahead of him in the early days of his time as Blues boss.
Everton have a history of beating Pep Guardiola’s side, and they will be looking to do so again when they meet at the end of February.
Tottenham Hotspur (A) - March 7
The end of this mini-run of games sees Lampard take Everton to the capital to face Tottenham.
Lampard enjoyed plenty of success as a player against Spurs, and he will be hoping to continue that trend as a manager with Everton.
The reverse fixture ended in a goalless draw in November, with Mason Holgate shown a red card in the closing moments of the contest at Goodison Park.
