There was a brief spell at the start of the 2020-21 season when Everton looked to have found an antidote for their chronic midfield woes.
Summer signings Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure joined Andre Gomes as part of a midfield trio for the season opener at Tottenham Hotspur. They, along with James Rodriguez sashaying in from the right flank, controlled that area of the field in a manner unfamiliar to Evertonians. The Blues won 1-0 that day and it was striking how well that newly-formed triumvirate functioned.
Allan provided an effective shield in front of the defence, Doucoure offered the box-to-box thrust and Gomes carried an air of composure from his spot on the left of the three.
