Everton have made a flying start to the Premier League season and sit top of the tree going into the international break.
It’s been a mad campaign so far, with goals flying in left, right and centre and Everton have looked as good as anyone in the division.
There will no doubt be talk about when the Toffees run will end; when last season’s title contenders will rise to the top again.
But why can’t Everton carry it on? We’ve got three reasons why they can do exactly that.
No European football
European football returns to the agenda after international week.
In this most frantic of seasons, that provides another challenge to the English clubs who are in continental action.
Everton aren’t one of them. The EFL Cup has been put to bed until December so they can focus on league action until then.
We saw with Leicester in 2016 that a team spending all week getting their tactics right for the weekend can be very dangerous indeed.
As rivals juggle their priorities, Everton can squarely focus on their league position. That could go a long way.
No longer light at the back
Until the signing of Ben Godfrey, an injury to Michael Keane or Yerry Mina would have been a big issue for Carlo Ancelotti.
Lucas Digne has deputised in the EFL Cup, but that’s not a long-term solution.
Godfrey can slot in if needed and Mason Holgate is another great option when fit.
Injuries could play a big part in a hectic season, but Everton have got decent depth now.
Winners in the ranks
Ancelotti and James Rodriguez are winners. They’re used to being at huge clubs where they have to get a victory every week.
That attitude can rub off on the Everton players, and change the mentality of the club.
They won’t see this good run as a flash in the pan; they’ll want it to carry on all season long.
For as long as Dominic Calvert-Lewin is scoring goals, Everton have got a chance of winning matches. This run can carry on for months to come.
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