When David Moyes headed for Manchester United in the summer of 2013, there was some real uncertainty at Everton. How would they respond under the guidance of Roberto Martinez?
They answered that question emphatically, finishing fifth with a club-record Premier League points return of 72.
As a result, heading into the 2014-15 campaign, there was a level of expectation at Goodison Park. Here, Sports Mole has assessed how the Toffees have fared so far.
August
Essentially, every Premier League side will play each other twice over the course of a season, but most managers will admit that a favourable set of fixtures early on can prove to be profitable.
It means that Everton boss Martinez will have been slightly disappointed when he learned that his side faced newly-promoted Leicester City on the opening day, before playing host to London duo Arsenal and Chelsea.
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As it was, a late strike from Chris Wood secured a 2-2 draw for Leicester at the King Power Stadium, before Everton played out the same scoreline against the Gunners at Goodison Park. It would have felt like a loss for Martinez's men, though, because they held a 2-0 lead, only for late strikes from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud to deny them.
Having conceded four goals in their opening two encounters, the Toffees would then ship six against Chelsea. Although still early days, it was a worrying start to the campaign.
September
With a £28m price tag hanging around his neck, it was vitally important that Romelu Lukaku broke his duck for the season. The Belgian did just that after the international break, opening the scoring in a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
It didn't inspire some future positive results, though, as Crystal Palace won 3-2 on Merseyside, while Swansea City recorded a routine 3-0 victory in the League Cup.
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The Europa League also got underway in September, with the Toffees turning on the style at the expense of German side Wolfsburg. Full-backs Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines both got their names on the scoresheet as Martinez's men ran out 4-1 winners.
The month was then brought to an end in memorable fashion. A drab Merseyside derby at Anfield looked to have been won by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, but deep into stoppage time, Everton were rescued by an unlikely source. Some 30 yards from goal, centre-back Phil Jagielka unleashed a rasping effort that flew into the top corner of Simon Mignolet's net to salvage a 1-1 draw.
October
Having thrashed Wolfsburg on matchday one, Everton followed that up in October with consecutive away draws away in Krasnodar and Lille. Although neither clash ended in victory, the Premier League side had put themselves in real contention to secure qualification to the knockout stages.
As well as that, their form also picked up in the Premier League. Late saves from David de Gea secured a 2-1 victory for Manchester United at the expense of the Toffees at Old Trafford. It was an extra costly defeat for Everton because they also lost the services of young defender John Stones to injury.
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Without Stones, Everton recorded their second victory of the campaign against Aston Villa thanks to three unanswered goals and that was then backed up by a 3-1 triumph away at Burnley, with Samuel Eto'o helping himself to a brace.
Such results had lifted Everton up to ninth and just four points adrift of the Champions League places as the season entered November.
November
Everton continued to show consistent and positive form in the Europa League as they booked their place in the last 32 of the competition.
Steven Naismith was among the scorers as Lille were defeated 3-0 at Goodison Park to leave the Toffees on the verge of qualification, which they then secured with an impressive 2-0 victory away in Wolfsburg. It was the Belgian duo of Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas that proved to be the difference in Germany.
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Meanwhile, the month as far as the Premier League was concerned started with disappointing draws against 10-man Swansea and Sunderland respectively.
Next time out, Leon Osman marked his 400th appearance for the club by scoring the winner in a 2-1 triumph over West Ham United, but that was followed by a defeat by the same scoreline away at Tottenham Hotspur. A stunner from Mirallas had given Everton an early lead at White Hart Lane, but Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado hit back.
December
Wins were hard to come by for Martinez's charges over the festive period, with just one being achieved from six Premier League encounters.
A disappointing 1-1 home draw was played out with Hull City, before a Yaya Toure penalty proved to be the difference between the blue half of Merseyside and champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
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Next time out, a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Goodison Park, where Ross Barkley shone in a holding midfield role, suggested that positive form was not too far away, but that was soon eradicated by successive defeats at the hands of Southampton, Stoke City and Newcastle United.
Having already qualified for the knockout stages as group winners, a 1-0 loss to Krasnodar was not a major problem, but heading into 2015, Martinez is bound to be concerned with his side's Premier League displays. After all, they enter January 12 points adrift of the Champions League places.
Position at start of 2015: 12th
Star player so far: Steven Naismith
Must do better: Romelu Lukaku
Where they need to strengthen in January:
Mid-season grade: D
To see Everton's remaining fixtures in 2014-15, click here.
Liam Apicella
