While the draw with Brentford earned Everton a point, it was another missed opportunity at a time when goals and wins are in desperately short supply.
The resolute and almost watertight defending has to be applauded, especially after a start to the season that saw them conceding goals at an alarming rate.
However, there has been a real shortage of creativity and conviction about much of their play around the opposition penalty area. It has become a real problem in recent weeks; one that needs solving in double-quick time.
The lack of goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin is an obvious cause of concern, but given his aerial prowess, the supply line for him needs to improve markedly.
Sean Dyche has tried various potential solutions to try to bring more firepower to the team, but so far without success.
Against Brentford, there was no shortage of endeavour – Dyche makes that a minimum requirement – but with the team needing a spark against a low block, it was surprising Jack Harrison was not given an opportunity. The on-loan Leeds winger has not set the world alight this season, but his introduction as a second-half substitute game against Crystal Palace at Goodison, proved game-changing. Maybe even a 15-minute cameo could have altered the course of the game.
That win against Palace is Everton’s only Premier League victory at Goodison so far this season.
Six points from six home matches so far is worrying, especially as home games have been the platform for survival in the past few seasons.
The schedule of fixtures also gets much harder – December could hardly be more difficult. As he has done before, Dyche will have to try to forge a way of winning matches again from this group of players.
Manchester United at Old Trafford may not be the daunting test that it once was, but it is a first home league game for new United manager Ruben Amorim. Everton will need to raise their game in attack to give the best opportunity of a positive result.
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