Everton fans have not had many chances to get used to the new ground this season.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium has only hosted two games kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday, which is usually when fans settle into their routines and matchday habits.
Everton’s upcoming clash with Manchester United will be their sixth Monday night fixture of the season, which is three times more than they have played in Saturday afternoon slots.
Consequently, the Toffees are on the verge of a record-breaking achievement, despite current Premier League regulations making such a feat seemingly impossible this season.
Everton move closer to West Ham’s record amid Premier League scheduling questions
West Ham currently hold the record for most Monday night fixtures in a single Premier League season, having played seven times on that day during the 1995/96 campaign.
As mentioned earlier, Monday’s match against Manchester United will be Everton’s sixth Monday night game this season, and it is likely David Moyes will be looking for some answers.
Back in November, BBC Sport pointed out that a new rule had been introduced this season, limiting teams to five Monday fixtures. While covering fixture congestion at Old Trafford, they wrote: “As Manchester United have already been picked three times in the Monday slot, they can be selected only two more times.”
Moyes may well ask the league why Everton have already reached six, and with 11 games still left after United’s visit, there is every chance they could break West Ham’s record before the season is over.
Could Everton’s uneven schedule at the Hill Dickinson Stadium be affecting performances?
Ben Foster once claimed that Everton fans, when in a bad mood, could actually have a negative effect on their own team, making players more nervous and prone to mistakes.
The more the Premier League puts Everton games late on work nights and moves fixtures around, the more frustrated fans will become. That frustration is bound to show up in the stands during matches.
If Foster’s observation holds true, that kind of mood in the crowd can spill over onto the pitch.
Everton have not won any of their last six home games at Hill Dickinson Stadium and have only managed five wins in 15 matches at their new ground overall this season.
So it is worth considering whether all these odd kick-off times are already starting to take a toll on results for Everton this year.
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