Everton

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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

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Everton boss Sean Dyche has been discussing the form of midfielder Dwight McNeil after his impressive start to the season and how he has found the right role for the former Burnley man.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jarrad Branthwaite is "certainly" available for Saturday's game, with Dyche confirming it was his decision to rule the centre-back out last weekend to give him an extra week of training. Jesper Lindstrom has also recovered from illness.

• He said they are waiting for an update from the specialists on James Garner's back injury and Youssef Chermiti and Tim Iroegbunam will remain out for a number of weeks.

• Summer signing Armando Broja is "on the edge of coming back to training" and Dele Alli "is just getting back on the grass again after another minor injury".

• On their recent performances: "We’ve found ourselves in a better position on the pitch and with injuries. That sharpness has helped and we’ve found a way to get results. We are showing we are a capable outfit and we can win games in the Premier League. There’s certainly a good feeling around the group at the minute."

• He said opponents Fulham "have shown they are more than capable" at competing in the top-flight, so "we have to make sure we impact the game to make them have a flat day".

• On the competition in defence: "We have four very good centre-backs all fighting for the shirt. It will all work out for itself."

• He said Michael Keane and Ashley Young's "professionalism is outstanding" and they are "everything you want" in footballers.

• More from Dyche on Young: "He could have easily walked away [in the summer] but he said he still has the edge and he wants to play so I said OK. He has a great old school thing in the sense that he just gets out there and does it. I wish them days were back more often."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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Two clean sheets in a row for Everton and four games unbeaten brings a sense of momentum heading into Saturday’s home game with Fulham.

The clean sheets are particularly pleasing, especially given the absence of Jarrad Branthwaite. However, with Branthwaite out, Michael Keane was excellent alongside James Tarkowski at the back, again showing that when he gets a chance inside the opposition box, he knows how to finish.

There was also another goal for Iliman Ndiaye and his skill and pace is a huge boost.

Everton might, and should have had more goals, but any win away from home is good, and they will be hopeful of keeping the run going at the weekend. That will be provided they can keep things tight defensively, but also convert more chances at the other end. Fulham have made a steady start but have lost their last two in the league.

With a little gap opening up below them, the Blues will want to look up rather than over their shoulder, and with games coming up soon against teams around them, it could be an important early phase of the season.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Everton's takeover by The Friedkin Group remains on track to be completed by December, but the new owners will not sanction significant January spending because of profit and sustainability (PSR) restrictions. (The i - subscription required), external

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Mike Richards
Fan writer

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As defensive turnarounds go, Everton's has been something of miraculous.

The very foundations of a Sean Dyche side are being resolute and difficult to break down. After four games, four defeats and 13 goals conceded, it was difficult to see how things were going to improve.

Fast forward four games and Everton have become Everton once again. Two wins, two draws and only two goals conceded, the shift has been dramatic.

The absence of Jarrad Branthwaite was certainly felt in the early part of the season, but given he has still only appeared once all season, the often makeshift defensive unit deserves immense credit.

So often maligned, Ashley Young has become Mr Reliable.

Playing at both left and right full-back, his experience and commitment have been valuable in recent weeks and sometimes too quickly forgotten.

His versatility is the major reason why he was given a further year's contract in the summer.

Yet it would be remiss of me not to mention the steady performances of Michael Keane.

So often a scapegoat, but certainly not beyond criticism, he is a player who very much relies on confidence.

What we have seen in recent weeks is him stepping up and outperforming James Tarkowski.

Being given a run of consecutive games appears to be helping his performances. With Jarrad Branthwaite back in full training, competition for places has clearly focused the mind.

Add into the mix his incredible eye for a goal, it potentially poses the manager with a selection headache against Fulham this weekend.

Keane himself believes he is one of the best finishers at the club. It is hard to pour water on those flames of self-confidence given his Everton goal catalogue.

"Dixie" Keane as a utility striker? You never know.

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Everton are preparing a £17m bid for Besiktas' 19-year-old Turkey forward Semih Kilicsoy. (Kontraspor - in Turkish), external

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

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Bill: The togetherness we have come to love was just not there. I hate to admit this, but Everton deserved to win. We all know we can do better. Bad defending and little in the way of creative knowhow. Better next time I hope.

Shaun: Our poorest home performance so far. The passing was far too slow, we lacked energy and looked really lacklustre. It absolutely shows that a number of our players are struggling to make the step up to the Premier League. We improved when the subs came on and Omari Hutchinson has to start on the right.

Damo: I was embarrassed by the abject performance. Kieran McKenna has a lot to learn, especially about his players the system and their abilities. Too slow at the back and no presence up front. I don’t mind losing, but to do it so pathetically was really poor and sapped all the confidence from the fans. We have played so much better.

Everton fans

Mike: It was a really good performance. I thought the midfield were outstanding and dominated Ipswich. We need to get to a point where we convert more of our goal chances but overall a comfortable win.

Kevin: Great performance from Everton. Sean Dyche gets the absolute best from the players he has at the football club. No other manager could achieve more in the circumstances. I don’t understand talk about replacing him

Anton: Well that was a pleasing performance to secure us an important victory. No drama, no worries, no stress - I'd honestly forgotten what a Saturday afternoon like that feels like. It's difficult to say who was our worst performer - although maybe Dominic Calvert-Lewin gets that for all his misses. Get Keano upfront!

Chris Wise
BBC Match of the Day at Portman Road

Image source, PA Media

Unfortunately for Dominic Calvert Lewin, people might have seen the two, huge chances that he spurned against Ipswich at the weekend and then fall into the trap of thinking he didn’t have a good game. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I was so impressed with the Everton forward. His movement, hold up play and desire to be direct were fantastic. He gave Ipswich’s defenders a torrid day, even if he should have snared at least one of those opportunities.

Is it beyond the realms of possibility that Calvert-Lewin could work his way back into the England squad now that Thomas Tuchel is in charge? It’s been more than three years since he last represented his country, and clearly he’ll need to find some consistency, as well as keeping that goal tally topped up.

But I wouldn’t completely rule him out from returning to the Three Lions fold in 2025.

Gary Lineker brings highlights and analysis from Saturday's Seven Premier League fixtures.

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

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• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist

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After a shocking start to the season Everton are now heading in the right direction after beating Ipswich to make it four Premier League games unbeaten and move five points clear of the drop zone.

It was a comfortable victory, though Evertonians could be forgiven for being nervous after the side conceded 2-0 leads in back-to-back defeats against Bournemouth and Aston Villa earlier this season.

As well as making it four unbeaten Everton have also kept successive clean sheets for the first time this campaign. That makes it 14 Premier League shut outs since the start of October 2023 – only Arsenal have more in that period.

It is the kind of platform successful Sean Dyche teams are built on and suggests the team can continue to climb the table.

At the other end Iliman Ndiaye continued to offer the kind of guile, flair and creativity Everton lacked at times last season.

The summer signing from Marseille is already a fans' favourite and only increased his popularity with a fine opening goal.

Michael Keane has not always been as popular with Evertonians but his goal was arguably even better - a rocket of a left-shot into the roof of the net.

If there is any negative it is they did not extend their lead further, but it would be harsh to criticise what was a routine away win.

Image source, PA Media

Sean Dyche spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Everton's victory against Ipswich: "Really pleased. I thought it was a good performance in many different ways and we were effective in attack. Three points takes us to eight from four games.

"I thought we controlled the game well, especially as these came up with a fantastic season last season but we have a more experienced group and that showed with how we managed the game.

"We had a couple of give-aways this season, but today the shape was good, the commitment to get bodies behind the ball and we scored two very pleasing goals. We had numerous chances and we could've gone in further ahead.

"Everyone knows how we have been winning 2-0 [and then lost] but today we have seen the game off. It's beginning to show positive signs but there's a lot of work to do.

"We're showing signs again that we're a good outfit. I never lack belief in the players and the staff. I didn't think we were miles off at the start of the season, we had a couple of turn-arounds but we are learning from that."

On Ipswich having a penalty overturned: "You just want consistency and they have been consistent. We had one with Dominic Calvert-Lewin [against Newcastle] they said that wasn't a penalty and I thought it was but if they are going to give consistency then I'm fine with that.

"As Dom's one was not given, this one shouldn't be given and it wasn't."

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Dwight McNeil has been involved in six of Everton's nine Premier League goals this season (three goals, three assists - 67%); only Cole Palmer for Chelsea (11/16 - 69%) has been involved in a higher proportion of his side's goals in the competition this season.

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

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

For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

This one is very hard to call. Ipswich are still winless but, performance-wise, they might still be strangely happy because they have shown they can compete in the Premier League.

Everton have some reasons to be cheerful too. They are only a point and a place above Ipswich in the table but their results have picked up recently, and they are unbeaten in three league games now.

So, I have been scratching my head here about what to go for... and I am going to go against all my instincts and say Ipswich are going to get their first win of the season.

Kieran McKenna's side deserve a break, and maybe they will get it here.

Kellie's prediction: I like the way Ipswich play and I think this is when they get their first win. 2-0

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

There are seven matches that make up Saturday's Premier League action:

• Tottenham v West Ham - 12:30

• Fulham v Aston Villa

• Ipswich v Everton

• Manchester United v Brentford (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Southampton v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Arsenal - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Opta

With the October international break now firmly in the rearview mirror, Opta Analyst, external have turned their attention to the next four Premier League fixtures.

Here, they have given each team a ranking between 80 and 100 and then found the average to determine to difficulty of the schedule.

Liverpool's opening seven matches were ranked the easiest in the league, but their upcoming four are the fourth-toughest in the division. They will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, with an average opponent strength of 91.4 before the next international break.

Fellow early pacesetters Arsenal also have challenging fixtures, playing Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with an average rating of 90.7, while Manchester City's next four against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are ranked the third-easiest by Opta.

Chelsea and Brighton have the second-hardest and third-hardest runs respectively, a real test given the promising starts for their new managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler.

At the other end of the table, Leicester - who recently secured their first win of the season against Bournemouth - have a chance to build with the easiest run in the division. They face Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Manchester United.

Fellow promoted side Ipswich will hope to pick up their first win of the season during a run of games that is ranked the fifth-easiest.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton cannot take Ipswich Town game "for granted", says Toffees boss Sean Dyche.

The Merseyside club, who have taken five points from the past three matches after losing their first four, travel to Portman Road on Saturday.

The Premier League newcomers are still waiting for their first league win, but sit only a point behind Everton as a result of their four draws in seven games.

Sean Dyche's side have a good record against promoted teams, winning three and drawing two of their past five encounters.

Despite the turnaround in form from the Toffees, boss Dyche is wary of the threat posed by Kieran McKenna's side.

"You can't take these teams for granted. There are no gimmes," said Dyche.

"They've spent a small fortune - or a recognised fortune - in this level of football for a club who've just come up so they're obviously intent on staying in the division.

"They did terrific last season. They're good operators. They're learning as they go. The last time out [a 4-1 defeat by West Ham] was a tough one. That can happen in the Premier League.

"But from what I've seen so far, they're full of endeavour and full of belief to take it on. That's what we've got to be ready for."