Everton has been far more impressive this year than their last two Premier League campaigns.
In their 12 games so far, they have picked up four wins, two draws, six defeats and 14 points; well, they were on 14 points until the league deducted ten for breaches of the profit and sustainability rules.
This ruling has seen the club drop to 19th place, and their 14 points turn to four, meaning they are now level with Burnley in 20th place and one behind Sheffield United in 18th.
While this undoubtedly makes Sean Dyche's job of keeping the team in the top flight that much harder, the Toffees have looked genuinely great at points this season, and there is a general belief that they will still survive even with the deducted points.
In fact, the team are on a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, claiming all three points from a highly entertaining clash with Crystal Palace before the international break.
With that in mind, here is a look ahead to Everton's next six fixtures as Football FanCast predicts how far the Toffees can continue their rare unbeaten run.
Everton fixtures
25th November
Manchester United
Premier League
H
2nd December
Nottingham Forest
Premier League
A
7th December
Newcastle United
Premier League
H
10th December
Chelsea
Premier League
H
16th December
Burnley
Premier League
A
19th December
Fulham
EFL Cup
H
Everton vs Manchester United
26th November, Premier League, Goodison Park
Everton's first game back from the international break is a real doozy: Manchester United at Goodison Park.
Now, had this been last season, predicting the outcome would be relatively easy – a comfortable win for United. However, with how both sides have started their league campaigns this year, we aren't so sure it's as clear-cut as it was.
United are currently sitting in sixth place, having won seven games from 12 and losing the other five. Their last three games have seen them beat Fulham and Luton Town 1-0, but lose to FC Copenhagen 4-3 in the Champions League.
Still, United have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign in 34 years, so a game away to Everton looks a lot more daunting than usual.
The crowd is sure to play a factor in this one as well, as this is the first game Everton will play after their points deduction, so the atmosphere might well be incredibly hostile.
It might not be a particularly high-quality game, but it should be a tense one, and we reckon a backs against the walll Everton might just come out on top.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 Manchester United
Nottingham Forest vs Everton
2nd December, Premier League, City Ground
Following their home tie against Manchester United, Sean Dyche's Toffees will be back on the road and travelling down to the City Ground to take on Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest.
Everton might have more Premier League pedigree on their side, but with how the two sides have started their league campaigns this year, it would be hard to deny that the Tricky Trees will be firm favourites heading into this one.
Cooper's men find themselves in 14th place, with three wins, four draws and five defeats to their name. However, those figures don't tell the whole story.
In a few of their games against the big sides like Arsenal, United and Manchester City, Forest have performed excellently and probably deserved to come away with at least a point in each encounter.
Everton, on the other hand, have been quite inconsistent overall, and so we can't really see anything other than a home win in this encounter.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Everton
Everton vs Newcastle United
7th December, Premier League, Goodison Park
Just three days after their trip to the City Ground to face off against Nottingham Forest, Everton will be back in action, only this time, they will be playing host to one of the best teams in the league, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United.
As things stand, the Toon are sitting in seventh place, with six wins, two draws and four losses from their opening 12 Premier League games. What's more worrying for the Toffees, though, is Newcastle's goal-scoring record this season, as they have already scored 27 goals, which is more than any other side and 16 more than Everton.
For their part, Everton are down in 16th, with just four wins to their name and a goal difference of minus five. However, it's not all doom and gloom for the Toffees, as with the game taking place at Goodison Park, they will be able to count on an extremely partisan crowd to give them the boost they will need – especially after last week's points deduction.
However, history is certainly not on their side, as in the last five encounters between the two sides, Everton have won just a single game to Newcastle's four – including last season's 4-1 mauling.
Ultimately, for as up for the game as Goodison is likely to be, we reckon Newcastle will have too much about them and cruise to a reasonably comfortable victory.
Prediction: Everton 1-3 Newcastle United
Everton vs Chelsea
10th December, Premier League, Goodison Park
The start of the winter congestion doesn't get any easier for Sean Dyche's Toffees as they face a visit from traditional domestic giants Chelsea straight after a date with the Magpies in December.
Chelsea have struggled at the start of the season. However, they have looked much better in recent weeks, drawing at home to Arsenal before beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 and then drawing 4-4 with Manchester City before the international break.
With the players they have at their disposal, alongside their seemingly bottomless pockets designed closer to that of warchests, the credence is that Chelsea will come good at some point.
But at a partisan Goodison Park, they are handed a poisoned chalice.
Under pressure is the scenario that Everton have proven to be most fruitful, and this – paired with their positive run of losing just three times in the two sides' previous nine meetings – will put the Toffees in good stead for picking up valuable points over the early Christmas festivities.
Particularly since Sean Dyche may be handed the prerequisite to get back to winning ways after a tricky run against stern opposition, a visit from Chelsea might prove to be the perfect remedy.
Prediction: Everton 1-0 Chelsea
Burnley vs Everton
16th December, Premier League, Turf Moor
Talking about perfect remedies. Sean Dyche will no doubt feel confident that, if he can't get a result against Chelsea or Newcastle, then his old team Burnley will present the Toffees with charitable points on the road.
Vincent Kompany's Clarets haven't lived up to the potential they exercised in the Championship last season, and it remains to be seen how long the Pep Guardiola apprentice will last should their dismal record continue to slump in the Premier League.
Currently, they sit in 20th, having only picked up four points from 12 Premier League games. Additionally, while they rank as the lowest side in the league for points, their goal difference also sits in this worrying position, with only Sheffield United on minus 21.
Everton will pinpoint this December match-up as the pick of the bunch as a must win, especially if they are still in the relegation zone when the game comes around.
In the busy winter congestion, every point matters, but a trip to Turf Moor, as things stand, will always demand three points.
Prediction: Burnley 0-2 Everton
Everton vs Fulham
19th December, EFL Cup, Goodison Park
Three days after their must-win game against Burnley, Everton have the chance to give their fans an early Christmas present by booking a place in the EFL Cup semi-final with a win over Fulham at Goodison Park.
The talk around the Toffees will still likely be dominated by the points deduction, and fair enough, but the Merseysiders have the chance to change the narrative somewhat should they beat the Cottagers.
To get to the quarter-final, Fulham had to beat Ipswich Town, Norwich City, and Tottenham Hotspur, whereas Everton beat Burnley, Aston Villa, and Doncaster Rovers.
In terms of the league, the West Londoners currently sit in 15th, while Everton are down in 19th, but the Toffees have actually won more games, with four to Fulham's three.
Ultimately, it will be a challenging game for both sides, but under the lights at Goodison Park with a highly partisan crowd, we reckon Dyche will be leading his men out in a semi-final in the new year.
Prediction: Everton 2-1 Fulham
