A real undercurrent of positive energy is surrounding Everton right now, despite them still looking for their first Premier League win of the campaign.
Frank Lampard and his staff have been hard at work over the summer in improving the playing side and the squad and, while it might not have been the perfect transfer window in that sense, there were distinct factors for fans to get behind. Defensive additions have been key to the Blues being much more robust in that area for example, with only three sides in the top division so far conceding less goals.
But it's the prospect of the club's midfield which is exciting many people as it stands. From what seemed a real weakness for the side throughout 2021/22, there's a hope that the manager can actually use that area of the pitch as a base to build the rest of his team around.
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Alongside that thinking is the belief that Everton might not have actually seen their best trio from the start of a game in that position as of yet. That's not to take away from the brilliant job Amadou Onana, Tom Davies and Alex Iwobi all showed against Liverpool especially.
For significant portions of the Merseyside Derby earlier this month the Blues managed to take control of the game by dominating the centre of the pitch. All three midfielders managed to show real moments of energy, quality and intelligence to put their side on the front foot and keep Jurgen Klopp's men from having too many openings.
However, in the second half, we perhaps saw what could be the personnel preferred by the manager in the near future at least, with Idrissa Gueye coming off the bench to make his second debut for the club. The deadline day signing was someone supporters were desperate to see, and he brought an air of class and his usual defensive nous to his time on the pitch.
Davies was the man replaced at that time and there are many who would agree that to drop the academy graduate when he is playing so well would be harsh. The nature of the competition in the Everton squad now however means that there is a real potential for Lampard to test a number of different options out to find his best formula.
When asking supporters on social media on Monday morning, it was clear to see the majority believe Onana, Iwobi and Gueye to be the strongest available trio right now. Whether that changes in the future, however, is yet to be seen.
The five substitute system means that Lampard can be allowed a fair few opportunities to attempt different combinations in the centre of the pitch. Either in an attempt to unlock a side, potentially see out a victory or just to give others an opportunity to impress - it's much more likely that the manager could well be tempted to roll the dice.
Take the potential return of Abdoulaye Doucoure, for example. He is someone that often looked fantastic when playing in a three-man system under Carlo Ancelotti, and could potentially be brought into the fold with stronger players alongside him this time around.
Whereas Everton have often been forced to rush him back from past injury issues as he has been a crucial member of the squad, that pressure is a lot more relaxed now. The Frenchman is still an important player for this side, but competition around him has certainly improved.
James Garner arrives on Merseyside still waiting to make his break onto the Premier League scene, with some very strong spells in the Championship already under his belt. If he needs time to adapt to the level or to playing alongside his new teammates, then being introduced as part of the five substitutes could give him a great opportunity to do that.
Meanwhile Davies, who is versatile enough to play in any of the three positions in a midfield trio, could well keep his place in the side as long as he keeps his performances up. If he is rested or dropped to the bench for any reason, then there's distinct opportunity for him to get enough minutes to turn the tide back in his favour.
So the question of Everton's strongest midfield might be an easy one for some, but it doesn't necessarily tell the whole story. Different matches could require different combinations, and who can tell which players will be in or out of form in the coming weeks and months?
What's clear is that the Blues have given Lampard every opportunity to take advantage of an area of the pitch he knows so well. The depth the club now has in that position means that a "strongest" trio might all be relative.
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