'Excellent' - BBC Merseyside journo drops Everton verdict after what's happened recently

Everton have been praised for the “excellent” results they earned against Arsenal and Chelsea by BBC Merseyside reporter Ian Kennedy.

Many expected the Merseyside outfit to crumble under the pressure from the two Premier League title challengers but instead, they stood strong and earned some vital points, earning goalless draws in both contests.

Sean Dyche’s men are still 15th in the Premier League and may have the likes of Manchester City and Nottingham Forest to face after Christmas and Kennedy claimed if they can take something in the former of those fixtures they’ll have come through “admirably” from a tough run.

Writing for the BBC Sport website (23 December), Kennedy wrote: “Although draws do not propel you up the table very far, the points gained against Arsenal and Chelsea – both with clean sheets – can be viewed as excellent results.

“If Everton can get something at Manchester City on 26 December, they will have navigated a particularly tough run of fixtures admirably.

“That said, the fixtures after Boxing Day are tough too, but that is the Premier League for you.

“Defensively, Everton are sound – five clean sheets in the past six games. Clearly they need goals now, but given the quality of the opposition recently, it has been a good run”.

Sean Dyche will keep Everton in the Premier League this season

If Everton’s recent Premier League games against Arsenal and Chelsea are anything to go off of, it’s clear that the Toffees have the quality to stay in the Premier League this season.

At the moment, they currently have a four-point cushion between themselves and 18th-placed Wolves, which, on paper, isn’t all that much.

However, the fact that the Toffees have earned two points from their last two top-flight games is nothing short of remarkable, especially with the form Enzo Maresca’s men have shown this season.

While the Merseyside outfit’s attack may be the area that’s letting them down at the moment, with the January transfer window just around the corner and the new owners settling into their roles before the window opens, it feels like the number nine role within the squad could be an area of priority, PSR parameters permitting of course.

With Dyche as manager, even if it is just until the end of the season, it feels like Everton have more than enough to survive and perhaps build on when the 2025/26 season comes around.

In other Everton news, Pat Nevin has shared his thoughts on the job that Sean Dyche is doing with the Toffees at the moment.

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