Southampton's decision to sack manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is a useful reminder that Everton are not the only club with concerns heading into the World Cup break.
The south coast outfit have become the fifth Premier League club to get rid of their boss this season - while Brighton and Hove Albion also had to say goodbye to Graham Potter after Chelsea moved in for him. After a performance in which the Blues took a step back on Saturday and results elsewhere saw them slide down the table rather than push up it, Hassenhuttl's departure highlights the wider context the club is operating within.
Frank Lampard has concerns heading into the break in the domestic season - chiefly where goals will come from. And no-one at Everton can show any complacency towards the threat of a difficult season. But a win against Leicester City would have transformed the narrative as the first part of an unprecedented campaign draws to a close - and the trip to Bournemouth next Saturday still provides an opportunity to end this period positively.
