Everton

The bottom six teams in the Premier League all play one another on Saturday and with the way the season has gone so far, those fixtures are going to be big.

Winning these games and earning three points could at the end of the season be called the six-pointers.

When I played for Reading and we were fighting down the bottom of the league, these are the fixtures that we looked for because they are must-win games.

I am not sure Crystal Palace would have targeted these at the start of the season because they would have expected to have been higher in the league, but the newly promoted teams will have.

Wolves probably need the win the most because they wouldn't have expected to be second from bottom after nine games and they need to start picking up results.

It is a little bit more difficult for the promoted teams because they are still trying to adapt to the Premier League.

I don't think these results will necessarily define any team's season - as it so early on - but winning helps to break the rut and sometimes it becomes difficult for teams to know how to win when they aren't.

For all of these teams something has to adapt at some stage. You have to find a way to win a game, even if it is scruffy, and especially against those teams that are in and around you.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Image source, Getty Images

Scott McLeod, Everton's director of communications and engagement, and Mike Gittins, head of data science and insight, have spoken to BBC Radio Merseyside about the process for season ticket holders at Goodison Park to secure their seats at the club's new stadium next season.

Q: There will be people who sit in the Gwladys Street or wherever, wanting that "home stand" feel - but is it important to remember that it's a much bigger capacity, and even if you're not in that first section of fans that can get their season tickets, you've still got a good chance of getting in that home end?

Gittins: Based on our forecasts, the last season ticket holder to pick their seat at the new stadium will have 12,000-15,000 seats available for them to pick from. That home end is significantly bigger than the Gwladys Street at the moment. So we're really confident that once season ticket holders get their opportunity to purchase, they will have a full range of options to pick from.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Scott McLeod, Everton's director of communications and engagement, and Mike Gittins, head of data science and insight, have spoken to BBC Radio Merseyside about the process for season ticket holders at Goodison Park to secure their seats at the club's new stadium next season.

Q: If you're in a group, what does that mean? You might have had your ticket for 15 years but somebody who you go with might have had it a bit less. What happens then?

McLeod: In order to protect the tenure and manage it in a fair way, if you've had a season ticket for 15 years, you've got a friend who has had one for 10 years and another friend who has had one for five years, in order to sit together, you need to wait until the friend with the lowest tenure is eligible to buy.

You will still have thousands of seats to choose from. But for those groups, we will manage that in a way that allows the person with the lowest tenure to be the key individual in that group purchase.

Over the past two years, the insight team have conducted a number of surveys which tens of thousands of Evertonians have taken part in, that have helped shape and inform the way we have modelled this process, with the number one priority being fairness and ensuring everybody who is making the move to the new stadium is managed in a fair and balanced way.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Life is like a box of chocolates as Forrest Gump was once to say and there were plenty of sweetmeats to enjoy at the weekend in the Premier League. There were late goals and last-minute dramas aplenty.

West Ham, Bournemouth and Brentford all secured extra points after the 90 minutes had come and gone, so the supporters of the above who hung around could enjoy a feast.

The game I was at felt like famine until Beto equalised for Everton in the 94th minute. Mayhem erupted as Everton stole a scarcely deserved point from Fulham, but the previous hour and a half left a very bad taste.

The Everton fans pack the place out, they hope for the best, but now expect very little. I can never remember that grand old ground being quite so quiet. When it seemed to be trundling towards a dull 1-0 defeat, there wasn't even enough passion to be righteously angry.

The tactics were from many decades ago and they wouldn't even have been considered sophisticated for that time. They did work in the end which underlined that there are no right or wrong ways to play football, only ways that work for you.

Everton will survive ugly, but in the long term it will not be enough to satisfy true Blues who have known much better. They are already looking forward to next season with new owners, new stadium and completely new outlook, but hopefully not in a new lower league.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Image source, Getty Images

Defender James Tarkowski has said Everton are a "work in progress" but he is pleased with the positive strides made by the team in recent weeks.

Saturday's 1-1 draw against Fulham was a fifth Premier League game without defeat for the Toffees, who had started the season with four consecutive losses.

"We're a work in progress, like every team," said the former Burnley centre-back. "We're slowly getting to where we want to be but it takes time. We're not going to perform to our best every week. Ideally we want to win every game but that's five unbeaten now.

"We look a bit more defensively sure, I know Fulham had a few chances [on Saturday] but I don't feel we're as open as we did early in the season. We're working towards getting to a level where we can pick up results consistently and we're sort of getting there now."

Tarkowski conceded that Everton were not at their best against Fulham but Sean Dyche's side secured a point thanks to Beto's late equaliser.

He added: "In my time here, in previous years that would have been a defeat - especially my first season when every time we went down, we never seemed to get back into games.

"It's a sign of the progress we've made but there is a lot more work to be done."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Beto's stoppage-time equaliser against Fulham could not hide what was an inadequate performance by Everton at Goodison Park.

The message of "if you can't win, don't lose" is about as positive a spin as I can put on things this week.

It was a far cry from the showing at Portman Road a week earlier and asked more questions than it answered.

There is somewhat of an understanding within the fan base that we are not going to see free-flowing, in-your-face football every single week.

Expectations have rightly been tempered in recent seasons given our much publicised financial issues, amongst many other sideshows.

Despite this, the one-dimensional style of football against average opponents is discouraging to say the least.

People will rightly point out that a change in system resulted in us finding an equaliser and ultimately extending our recent unbeaten run to five matches.

The formation shift occurred out of accident as opposed to design because of an injury to Dwight McNeil, meaning Michael Keane became that utility striker all Evertonians discussed last week.

I do not buy into the notion that this side's sole aim is Premier League survival. It is a lazy narrative that appears to be the joker card played at times.

There is certainly more of a balance to the squad this season. With the additions of Ndiaye, Mangala, Lindstrom et al, there is certainly an added quality to the side as well.

Too often, Dominic Calvert-Lewin finds himself isolated up front. Chasing his own flick-ons or simply surrounded by opposition players, it is a thankless task.

If something is not working, then proactive alterations are needed in game.

There is more to this team than what we are currently seeing. We cannot be fooled into thinking this is as good as it gets.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Guinea-Bissau striker Beto, 26, is considering leaving Everton in search of regular first-team football. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

There was late drama...

Image source, Getty Images

And late drama...

Image source, Getty Images

And late drama...

Image source, Getty Images

Sometimes you just can't escape it.

Image source, Getty Images

There were returns to goalscoring ways...

Image source, Getty Images

And goalscoring partnerships...

Image source, Getty Images

While sometimes the spoils just have to be shared...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

And after a busy day at work, sometimes you just need a lie down.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Everton and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Andy: A tough watch. We were so passive. We were lucky to take a point really, but our run continues. The goal clearly meant a lot to Beto and I'm pleased for him. Young had another decent game and he showed great skill with the assist. We need to take three points against Southampton now.

Anton: We somehow drew, so that shows good character, but we were so poor. I do love Sean Dyche but he needs to figure out how to play at Goodison Park because it is just not good enough. The derby last season is the blueprint. How we set up to play works very well away, but he needs to find a new way for the home ground. It's a good job the next two matches are away.

Chris: When is Sean Dyche going to learn that with the amount of possession that Everton concede to the opposition, they are not going to win enough games to stay in the Premier League. They are simply not good enough!

Marshall: As a long-time Everton supporter, I live in hope that we will be winning games more often and move up the table. I have to say that I was quite disappointed with our performance. The only saving grace was our effort towards the end and, of course, Beto's great goal! I sometimes wonder how the team prepares during the week, to be honest.

Fulham fans

Simon: A much improved display from last week. We were easily the better team but we simply must learn to concentrate, and defend, for the whole game. With three central defenders on the pitch, giving a free header to Beto in the 94th minute is not good enough. We shouldn't always have to score more than one goal to win games.

Lucas: Disappointing result. Once again we threw it away and it is fair to say that every Fulham fan knew what would happen. It has happened time and time again. The goal was good and I thought Sander Berge was decent. It is just a shame. We need to stop allowing pressure to come on us and playing for the 1-0. Also, how many chances does Pereira need before he gets dropped?

Jim: How can you have so much possession and only one goal? I think Pereira needs to think about his team-mates. We really move well and then it falls apart in front of goal, so perhaps there ought to be some instruction about who is our "target man" and a plan for getting the ball to him.

Philip: The lack of a number nine has been a problem for two years now. We should be a top-six team but we miss so many chances that a good goalscorer would take.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton winger Theo Walcott has been discussing former team-mate Dominic Calvert-Lewin's contract situation, with the forward's current deal set to run out at the end of the 2024-25 season.

"Sean Dyche wouldn't want to lose someone like Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the club," Walcott said on Match of the Day. "Especially when they are moving into the new stadium.

"He is a player that plays to Everton's strengths, at times, but I do think he needs a partner just to help him out and help his confidence."

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer added: "I think it is a lonely role that he is asked to play. He is getting a run of games now and there aren't so many injuries for him.

"But his goal record isn't great - one goal in four games. It isn't like he misses a stack of chances, but they do need to play a specific way when they have him available.

"You have to get balls up and into the box because that is where he is a big threat."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton winger Theo Walcott thinks Sean Dyche will be "very relieved" that the Toffees extended their five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League after Beto's 94th minute goal saw them share the points with Fulham.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Walcott said: "They will be very relieved. It was Beto as well, who is putting a lot of pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin right now.

"It was fantastic that Everton yet again got the result.

"I felt that Calvert-Lewin was a very isolated figure in this game. Calvin Bassey and Issa Diop, who were tremendous all game, bullied him. They really did. They put him in a position where he found it very difficult to make an impact on the game.

"I think he would have been quite frustrated with his performance. He came off and Beto came on - and he wants to make a point and wants to be in the team, with Calvert-Lewin's contract obviously running down as well.

"Beto was just a bit of a different player for Bassey and Diop to deal with.

"He was putting himself in the right areas and causing Fulham's backline a different problem. He picked up some good positions and there was some relief for him when he did get his goal. It was brilliant to see."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

Everton manager Sean Dyche has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side clinched a point against Fulham: "It feels good in the sense that I don't feel we were near our recent performance levels. The big balance is that the mentality continues to grow. You could smell in the air in the last 10 minutes that a goal was coming, at least I felt that way.

"To be fair, they were the better team overall today and they are a really good side. We forged a positive point for ourselves in the end.

"I don't think we played well in the first-half. I don't think we effected things too differently in the second-half. Sometimes you have to mix it up, play crosses into the box, and I was really pleased with that.

"We finally scored a goal and nicked a point. I don't think we were miles off today, but we were off where we want to be."

On Beto's goal: "He has been working hard. His career path has been meteoric. We knew he was raw and he still has a lot to learn. It is a brave header, he throws himself in amongst it.

"As Brian Clough said: 'Sometimes you need to get hurt to score a goal'. He certainly was willing to get hurt to score that goal. It is good that you have players who want to come off the bench and affect the game."

On Everton's five-game unbeaten run: "We weren't playing our best, but we found a way to get something from the game. Over a season, it is important to keep getting something from games in the Premier League."

Image source, Getty Images

Since losing their first four Premier League matches this season, Everton are unbeaten in five games (W2 D3). They have never been on a longer such run in the competition under manager Sean Dyche.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton goalscorer Beto has been speaking to Sky Sports after scoring the late goal which forced Fulham to share the points this evening: "It means too much for me because I work hard, and even if I don't play I still work hard. I put my head up every week and try to get better.

"For me, this goal means too much. To be able to help the team, for me, it is emotional you know. It was hard, well hard. These last few weeks were really difficult for me.

"Here I am this week - we didn't win but I am pleased to take a point.

"For the supporters as well, they have supported me. They are always singing my name. As a player, you just want to pay it back.

"I always put it in my mind to be ready as the day may come and today it came. I'm happy to help the team, to help the Toffees.

"I will enjoy this one tonight. Tomorrow is a day off, I'm thinking about that."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Everton's performance, external

What did you make of Fulham’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Ipswich

• Brighton v Wolves

• Manchester City v Southampton

• Everton v Fulham - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week nine he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I don't like to mention that I said Everton would be fine, but I did.

After losing their first four games of the season, Sean Dyche's side are now unbeaten in their past four and climbing the table.

They are playing like a Dyche team too - hardworking and streetwise, but with a bit of quality too. Dwight McNeil is having an exceptional season.

This is a test for them because Fulham are one of those teams who can beat anyone on their day. They have lost their past two games, against Manchester City and Aston Villa, but they had good spells in both matches.

I wouldn't be surprised if either side won it, which is why I am going in the middle with my prediction.

Nemzzz's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Sean Dyche says Michael Keane is "a good weapon to have" because he provides a goal threat despite playing as a centre-back.

Keane was criticised by supporters as the Toffees lost their first four Premier League matches in their worst start to a season since 1966.

But Dyche's side seemed to have turned the corner, unbeaten in their past four and while Keane has impressed in defence, he has also scored two goals.

"We threw him on up front a few times, not last season but the season before, just to try to disturb the game a little bit," Dyche said. "If it lands in the box, he's as calm a finisher as I've seen and he enjoys scoring. He doesn't look nervous in front of goal - he just looks as calm as you like, as calm as the person he often is.

"It's a great skill to have. At my previous club [Burnley], he was a threat from set-pieces and since I've been here he's been a threat from set-pieces.

"He's a good weapon to have in the box but he's certainly a figure who I think can get more goals."

Full commentary of Everton v Fulham from 17:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live from 17:30 BST on Saturday.

Besiktas are keen on the possibility of taking Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin on loan, with Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal also interested in the striker. (Fotomac in Turkish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column