Everton’s record without key player is terrible – he won’t play this weekend

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An unbeaten start to the season after eight games in all competitions was beyond many Everton fans’ hopes. Carlo Ancelotti has made that happen and the Toffees are now aiming for big things this season.

Everton are currently on top of the league after four wins and a draw in their first five games. The Merseyside derby last weekend was their first big test of the season and they came out of it well after a tough game against the defending Premier League champions.

The game against their neighbours cost them a few players. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed today that Seamus Coleman and James Rodriguez are expected to miss the game against Southampton this weekend.

That is a big blow, especially the absence of Rodriguez. The Colombian has been a star since his debut, and he will be a big miss for Everton in attack. Sadly for the Toffees, he isn’t the only attacker unavailable for the game at the St. Mary’s.

Richarlison picked up a red card last weekend and he serves the first of his three-game ban on Sunday. The Brazilian has arguably been Everton’s best player since his debut over two years ago.

The former Watford man has 33 goals in 88 games for the Toffees, a fairly decent record considering Everton’s problems prior to Ancelotti’s appointment. The Toffees have been very reliant on his services in attack and they tend to struggle when he isn’t available.

Since his debut, Everton have played 81 games in the Premier League. Richarlison has missed five games in that period and the Toffees haven’t won once. That is a shocking stat and it just shows how important he is to the team.

Ancelotti has a lot to think about for this weekend. Missing Richarlison is a big blow in itself, but when you add Rodriguez into the mix, it could potentially become a huge problem for Everton.

Toffees supporters will be hoping that Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues his incredible form. The Englishman has scored 10 times already this season, and the pressure will be on him to deliver in Richarlison and Rodriguez’s absence on Sunday.