When Marco Silva was dismissed on 5 December Everton were in the relegation zone with 14 points from 15 games and nursing another Merseyside derby hangover. Two months on, revitalised by Duncan Ferguson and refocused by Carlo Ancelotti, they head into the mid-season break seventh in the
Premier League and talking of European qualification. And to think the Italian insists he is no magician.
Crystal Palace became the latest team beaten not by an upsurge in Everton’s performance level but by the winning mentality that Ancelotti has instilled at Goodison Park. This was a game an edgy and error-prone Everton team may have lost under their previous manager. Instead, inspired by the ever-dangerous Richarlison, they weathered Palace pressure and claimed a fifth win in eight league matches under their new manager. Only
Liverpool have won more Premier League points than the 17 Everton have gathered since the appointment of Ancelotti, who has already overtaken Silva’s sorry haul for the season.