Everton boss Marco Silva has demanded a reaction from his squad when they host Sheffield United on Saturday. Silva will be under serious pressure if Everton fail to take the maximum points at Goodison Park, while a defeat will leave the board with some big decisions to make.
The Portuguese embarked on his second season in charge last month but results have been less than convincing as they aim for a spot in the top six.
He was once again handed plenty of financial backing over the summer to boost their pursuit of European football, however, performances haven’t met the standard.
They have claimed seven points from their opening five games but the manner of last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth has led to unrest among the Everton faithful.
Everton are without a win in six away Premier League games and they have won just four times on the road since October 2018.
Indeed, you have to go all the way back to August and September of 2016 for the last time the Toffees earned back-to-back away league wins.
It’s an area that Silva needs to address sooner rather than later and he insists he is working on it, although the important factor for Everton is bouncing back on home soil when Sheffield United head to Merseyside on Saturday.
Silva said: “We analysed [the Bournemouth match] like usual, gave the right feedback to them about why some things happened in that game, and we will be fully ready to play, to show a reaction, and to do our best again to win the match.
“The last results at home show we are really strong playing in our stadium with our fans; it’s something we want to repeat again.”
History suggests Everton should have enough to see off the Blades, having won the last three meetings at Goodison Park, however, they are likely to come up against stiff competition after a positive start to the season by the newly-promoted side.
The South Yorkshire club already boast five points and showed incredible fighting spirit to battle back from two goals down to draw at Chelsea before the international break.
