Everton

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."

We asked you to send in your questions for Fara Williams and the former England midfielder and BBC Sport pundit has been answering a selection.

Chris asked: After the way Everton stood by Dominic Calvert-Lewin through his injury, allowing him maximum recovery time and not pressuring him to return despite needing him badly, would it be fair for him to not sign a new contract and leave for nothing?

The question is, with the new owners coming in: is there a contract on the table?

If there is not a contract on the table, is that the direction the owners want to go in or is there a contract there that Calvert-Lewin does not want to sign? There are two sides to these situations.

If there is an offer on the table and he is not signing it, for a club that have done so much for him and likewise he has done for them at times as their talisman, that would be gutting for Everton fans.

From that mutual respect they may have expected more from him, but the difficulty is not knowing whether there is a contract there to be signed.

Calvert-Lewin is someone who would have value on his head and it would therefore help the club in that way. So Evertonians would be bitterly gutted if he was running his contract down to leave.

It could be that Calvert-Lewin and his team are waiting for the new owners to come in to see what is put down and what direction they want to go. That is something the player does not really have a say in.

It is difficult because he is an ambitious player who, if the club stays in the same position it has been for the past few seasons, will want to move on. And, as a club, you do not want to hold a player back.

But, I also understand from a fans' point of view, with the support he has been given by the club, to leave like that without any profit would be gutting.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

Southampton remain most likely to finish bottom but their one point from seven games has seen their chances increasing dramatically from 28.6% to 61%.

A solid start, despite no win yet, has seen Ipswich's probability of finishing 17th creep up from 12% to 15.2% - but a 19th-placed finish has increased from 21.3% to 25.3%.

Leicester's most likely finish has changed from bottom to 18th after their first win under Steve Cooper, while Crystal Palace's poor start has seen their chances of ending in their current position of 18th go from 1.1% to 7.2%.

Wolves finished 18th in 9.7% of simulations before a ball was kicked but the now-bottom side are now at 20.1% to end in that position after a winless first seven games.

Everton boss Sean Dyche spoke about the progress of his players that are recovering from injuries, as his side prepare to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday.

Which Everton player would come first in a sprinting race?

And who does the most walking?

We've gathered the data from the Premier League season so far.

Find out here

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Winstanley, from A View From The Bullens podcast, says Everton's proposed takeover by The Friedkin Group provides the opportunity "to hit the reset button" and it would make sense to part ways with Sean Dyche in that process.

"They are going to want to set their own direction on and off the field," Winstanley told BBC Radio Merseyside. "That will come from the boardroom down as they decide how they want the football club to look.

"Conversations will need to be had to see if we will improve. Do I think Dyche is the manager to take us to the next level? I don't think he is.

"He is what he is, a limited manager, but he has retained us in the Premier League. The work he has done over the last 20 months has been OK - maybe even better than OK.

"His contract is up at the end of the year so that seems like the natural time to perhaps say goodbye with a new owner coming in.

"The football isn't aesthetically pleasing. That is where we are at this moment because we haven't got the players to go up that level.

"It just seems like a good time to hit the reset button."

Listen to the full interview with BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko is "looking good" and right-back Seamus Coleman has also returned to training.

• However, Jarrad Branthwaite "is a bit behind them" and Dyche will decide whether he is available for Saturday in the next 24 hours, adding: "It’s just the training schedule. He has no injury, so we just have to be careful."

• James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson are all still sidelined with their respective injuries. Iroegbunam has a foot injury "that is going to be weeks not days," while Garner has a problem with his back.

• Dyche conceded this season "has been a constant struggle of trying to get players fit" but with players slowly returning it should give them a boost to pick up more points.

• On the importance of picking up where they left off before the international break after a draw and a win in their past two games: "There’s still a lot of work to be done but we went back to getting a lot of the basics right and got results. We are showing signs [of improvement]."

• He said "we do feel like we are an anomaly" in terms of the performances reflecting where they are in the league table, but added "the league doesn't lie."

• On opponents Ipswich: "They have spent a recognised fortune so they obviously intend on being in this division. You can’t take anyone for granted as there are no gimmicks in this league."

• Finally, in response to Jordan Pickford showing signs of fatigue and being left out of England's starting XI against Finland on Sunday: "He’s a top-class goalie. The England thing will sort itself out."

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

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you for one thing nobody is talking about at Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: I'm a little concerned about Pickford. When he's in form he's brilliant, but lately he seems to be more inconsistent and erratic in his performances which is unsettling the Everton defenders.

Andy: I would say that Everton look more of a threat going forward now than in the last three or four years. Never have we had the passing ability or attacking threat that we have now. I don't think defensive frailties have reflected how good we potentially could be this year.

Duncan: I'm concerned that lots of people are talking about big spending when the takeover happens. The accounts are still the accounts, and whilst we're climbing out of the hole we cannot afford to mismanage the club the way we did under Moshiri.

Ross: We seem to have forgotten that both Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are out injured and will give us more options when they are fit again.

After no wins in their first four, Sean Dyche has steadied the ship at Everton with draws against Leicester and Newcastle sandwiched either side of a vital win over Crystal Palace.

Fears the Blues could play the first season in their new stadium in the Championship have faded, while takeover discussions with The Friedkin Group are trundling on in the background.

However, you know your club best. So when it comes to Everton, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Tell us here, external

BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?

What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?

Send in your questions here, external

Image source, Getty Images

An Everton-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Paul asked: Do you see Sean Dyche lasting if and when Everton's takeover is sorted? If we're going to spend any money in January it will be to suit a more forward-thinking manager.

Phil answered: I would be surprised if anything happened with Dyche this season because Everton's sole priority is to stay in the Premier League and he has a track record of being able to do that.

On the other side of that coin, I would also be surprised to see Dyche lead Everton into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season because when - as seems certain - Dan Friedkin completes his takeover, history tells us new owners want their own men and the timing will coincide with the end of Dyche's contract.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

Juventus could move for Everton's 27-year-old English forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will be out of contract in the summer. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian), external

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

Everton have set their sights on signing Stuttgart and DR Congo winger Silas Mvumpa, 26, in January. (Football Insider), external

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

Former manager Mark Warburton talks to The Football News Show about how managers can deal with mental health struggles while working at a club and what support there is available to them.

Watch The Football News Show's Mental Health special

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The international break probably comes at a good time for Sean Dyche given the injury problems in the run-up to the Newcastle game.

He will hope to have Jarrad Branthwaite back sooner rather than later, and the break gives one or two others a chance to come back in to the squad.

The draw at the weekend just keeps the unbeaten run going, and while it is only three games, it is a sign that perhaps things are starting to turn in the right direction.

Everton are no longer bottom, in fact they now sit 16th - important psychologically and will help confidence with games coming up soon against two sides below them, Ipswich and Southampton.

No game is a given, of course. They will be tough games but good ones to win.

Despite losing the likes of Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman, and Vitaliy Mykolenko to injury, they have managed to keep things fairly solid at the back and as he showed on Saturday, Jordan Pickford remains a huge presence between the sticks.

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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