Everton

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Everton manager Sean Dyche says it is not "easy" turn strikers into clinical goalscorers.

The Toffees' financial struggles off the pitch continue as their takeover remains up in the air and, before the match against Tottenham on Saturday, Dyche bemoaned the lack of options available to him.

Those difficulties look to have translated on to the pitch at the beginning of the new season as they followed an opening day 3-0 defeat by Brighton with a 4-0 drubbing at Spurs.

Once again they have lacked a clinical presence up front, an issue that was a feature of their last campaign and one they have not yet been able to resolve coming into this season.

"If it was that easy [to develop strikers] we would all be developing them and making them brilliant," said Dyche before Everton's Carabao Cup second-round tie against Doncaster at Goodison Park on Tuesday.

"So when people say, 'how are you going to make them more clinical?' then I will just say we're going to keep working and trying to find different ways - maybe the best kind of way they score goals - and give them the ammunition that gives them the best chance to score their best goals.

"But generally speaking, it is always a tough assignment. The clinical edge in football is always the thing managers are looking for."

When asked about potentially bringing a striker in before Friday's transfer deadline, the former Burnley boss responded: "And there are loads of them around? Everyone says why aren't we getting a striker - and I say go and find me one and we will get them in.

"Especially one for not a lot of money. That is a task, trust me. I have been doing it for years."

Mike Richards
Fan writer

A week is a long time in football , just not long enough in the world of Everton.

Whatever the reason – a stack of first team injuries, tactics or simply a lack of self-belief – Saturday’s showing at Tottenham has done little to lift the mood amongst the fan base.

There was a sense of optimism prior to the season starting, which has been swiftly wiped out after two successive defeats and very little in the way of attacking threat.

We’ve been here before. The score mirrors that of the second game of last season away at Aston Villa. It doesn’t make it any more acceptable or easy to swallow, but things can and will improve – hopefully.

After years of relegation fears, mismanagement and financial austerity, Everton fans are on the edge. It feels as if we are only ever a couple of defeats away from a crisis.

The manager’s comments since the start of the season have been somewhat mistimed and unhelpful. You wonder whether living in this recent version of the Everton bubble has got to him somewhat.

The scenes at London Euston on Saturday evening between a couple of fans and the team is something that not only needs no repetition, but also shouldn’t serve as a reflection of the vast majority of Evertonians.

This is a time for unity.

We are only two games into a new season, with a great chance to put things right this week.

Two home games against Doncaster and Bournemouth are the perfect opportunities to right the wrongs of Brighton and Tottenham.

We’ve proven countless times we are stronger together. Now is the time for us, the manager and the players to prove it.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

After Neal Maupay hit back over footage that appeared to show Everton fans abusing players following their heavy defeat by Tottenham on Saturday, we asked you for your views.

Here are some of your comments:

Dave: Everton fans have had an incredibly rough few years and I can understand why a section of the fanbase are reacting to our horrible start to the season, but big picture - we ARE course-correcting, albeit slowly. The injuries and lack of cash have killed us so far but I am 100% certain we'll improve under Dyche and end up comfortably mid-table.

Mark: There can be no excuse for swearing at and abusing your own team's players. How can you call yourself a fan and do that? Obviously Everton have made a poor start and the players and manager have to take responsibility for their performances on the pitch. There is no money to buy big but Dyche and the squad survived last season so show some faith.

Ian: Abuse is never acceptable in any shape or form. Fans have to accept that players will have a bad day at the office. But get over it, it's only a game. I understand fans have an investment in the club and spend huge amounts following the team. But if you can't handle your emotions then stay away from the players after games.

CS: It's disgusting and embarrassing for our club. However, it's a very small minority of fans and Maupay should be concentrating on his game rather than spending hours on social media criticising fans while taking tens of thousands each week.

David: Discussing a player's ability is a time honoured part of being a supporter but crossing over into personal abuse is way out of order. A section of our support crossed this line long ago, abusing our players and managers. A lot has gone wrong at Everton over many years and the part played in that by some of our 'fans' toxic behaviour needs to stop.

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After losing their opening two Premier League games of the season by three goals or more for the first time, BBC Sport pundits have been having their say on Everton's poor start.

Following the 4-0 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday, former Blues and Arsenal defender Martin Keown said on Final Score: "I'm concerned for Everton - seven goals conceded in two games.

"They never really looked like scoring in this one [against Spurs]. Next game up is Bournemouth - it's a must-win game now.

Former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley added: "They just looked deflated. They looked dejected. But, from a Tottenham point of view, they capitalised on that."

It was not all doom and gloom, however, as former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said he believes Sean Dyche is the manager best equipped to turn things around.

"With only 14 outfield players to choose from, it's always going to be difficult," he told Match of the Day.

"Losing [Jarrad] Branthwaite as well - their best centre half. But they've got a manager in Sean Dyche who can navigate the way through this.

"It's not panic stations yet."

Watch highlights of Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Robert: A good display against, it must be said, a poor Everton team. Four goals scored and a clean sheet. Son scored twice with his second coming after a sensational run from Micky van de Ven. Wilson Odobert got the fans excited on his debut and he looks a good buy. If I'm being picky, the only negative was Johnson because he has to get involved more. I'm not sure why but he seems to be lacking confidence.

Leah: A good result for Tottenham. It is good to get their first win under their belt. Let's hope it carries on.

Tristen: We won, but it wasn't unexpected. Everton are awful, they are certain for the drop and will be the whipping boys of the season. We must not get carried away. Great passing play and great movement. We need to upgrade on Johnson, he is a weak link. We must also have a plan B when we come up against tougher opposition, but this football will win us the Europa League.

Andy: The scoreline flattered us a bit. I'm still not convinced by our attacking line-up every time Ange chooses it, even when everyone is fit. Please could someone tell me what the point of Johnson is? Yet again he had zero contribution - that takes some doing. I'm pleased for Bissouma though.

Everton fans

Alex: Relegation candidates. You cannot score at one end and then concede at the other. They sold their forward line of Richarlison and Gordon but there is no money to invest or buy. There are 14 fit players and they are only two games in. A truly sorry state of affairs.

Richard: We had one player out there giving it 110% right up until the substitutes came on and that was Roman Dixon. It was an exceptional display from him. The substitutes gave us fight and creativity, so why does Dyche keep playing the same players who don't perform? He has to change his mindset or, after the Bournemouth game, just leave. I cannot see a win under this manager.

Greg: We need to keep calm here and not go over the top. I've never been a great lover of Sean Dyche and his football philosophy, but where do we go if we sack him? Maybe he should swallow his pride and be a bit more positive. Sacking him will be the worst possible decision. There is a winnable game ahead of us next week, then a two-week break to get players back from injury.

Simon: Sadly we have to work within the confines of what we can afford. It doesn't help when our players won't put pen to paper to try and leverage a move or more money for the club. Calvert-Lewin has always been a favourite of mine but, sadly, when the club needs him to perform, he just hasn't done. Perhaps he needs a change, along with some others.

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Everton striker Neal Maupay has reacted to Blues players being shouted and sworn at as they travelled back north after Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham.

A video being shared on social media shows a group of Everton fans verbally abusing players at a train station. The video also shows some supporters high-fiving players.

"Imagine another job where it's normalised to get abuse like this," Maupay posted on X.

"Hanging around at a train station to scream at men who are trying their best..."

It's not been an ideal start to the season for Everton.

Two defeats from two, bottom of the table, and now footage has emerged of what appears to be Toffees fans abusing the players as they board a train back from London after Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham.

Striker Neal Maupay has hit back on X, claiming there is no other job where abuse is as normalised as it is in football.

Everton fans, what do you make of this? Is fan frustration understandable or is this taking things too far?

Let us know here, external

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have lost back-to-back Premier League games by three or more goals for the first time since September 2017, when they lost 3-0 at home v Tottenham and 4-0 at Man Utd.

A ray of hope for Toffees fans though…they finished eighth that season!

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 4-0 Everton

• Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Everton captain James Tarkowski has been speaking to Sky Sports following the defeat: "I could stand here and make excuses about injuries. There is more to it than that. We gifted them a couple of goals.

"Jordan [Pickford] has been our player of the season for many years. Everyone makes mistakes - me more than most.

"We want everyone fit. We had a good line-up out there today. We have got to perform on the pitch. We have to stop conceding goals and start scoring. We are trying to be hard to beat.

"I have been here a couple of years now. We have been through many tests. This is another test. We need to get through it."

Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the heavy defeat: "Two back-to-back tough games. We had two mistakes last week, one mistake this week.

"Tottenham are a team of goalscorers, all over the pitch. We didn't have enough. We are stretched but that is no excuse. I expect a lot from these players, but there are a lot of challenges here.

"We are working within the guidelines that we can. We expect more. We have been written off many times before and we will be written off again. We have come through it before."

When asked if he was confident that no more players will be leaving before the transfer deadline, Dyche added: "It is shifting sands at this football club."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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The entire Everton team acknowledged the travelling support after another heavy defeat away at Tottenham.

In fairness, the majority who stayed applauded their players back, which might simply be an acknowledgement that they hardly have the quality to play at this level in the 2024-25 season.

Even Sean Dyche simply stood there in acceptance of a heavy 4-0 defeat, not ranting or raving at his players as they were well-beaten by a slick Spurs side.

Tottenham did a lap of honour to celebrate their win, in what was their first home game of the season.

And former Toffees striker Richarlison offered his match-worn shirt to a young Everton fan.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham have beaten Everton by four goals or more for the fourth time in the Premier League. They have done so against no other side more often in the competition's history (also four times against Aston Villa and Stoke City).

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nineteen-year-old defender Roman Dixon deserves some praise for his Everton debut.

He is coming out of it having won a fair few one-on-one duels versus Wilson Odobert and Son Heung-min.

It has been a real baptism of fire, without any protection in front of him, but he can hold his head high.

It is understood that he may still go on loan before deadline day, but this performance might have given manager Sean Dyche food for thought, after he stepped in as an enforced change with Ashley Young suspended.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Spurs fans, have your say on Tottenham's performance, external

What did you make of Everton's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Spurs could have been eight up at half-time against Leicester but didn't take the chances and that will have been a bit of a sickener - it will have felt like a defeat.

There are high hopes for Ange Postecoglou in his second season and they made great progress last year.

Everton played well for the first 20 minutes against Brighton and are a team who will sit and frustrate the life out of Tottenham and then counter.

They ran Tottenham close last season but I will say Spurs at home, in front of their own fans, need to be more clinical and will be.

Amfo's prediction: 2-1

Stephens' prediction: 3-0

I want to say 17-0 to Everton but I've gone for a Tottenham win, which makes me feel a bit sick. I do think Dominic Solanke is a really good signing for them though.

Read the full predictions and have your say

This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer