Month-by-month analysis of Everton's 2015-16 Premier League fixtures

Month-by-month analysis of Everton's 2015-16 Premier League fixtures

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The Premier League’s new set of fixtures was released for the upcoming season on Wednesday, and it appears a difficult opening for the Merseyside club. Outside90’s Joel Fruci looks at every month of the 2015-16 campaign and the realistic targets Everton can expect.

August

9 August – Watford (H)

16 August – Southampton (A)

23 August – Manchester City (H)

30 August – Tottenham Hotspur (A)

The Blues will kick off their campaign against newly-promoted Watford, in what could be a tricky match and nothing should be taken for granted after a similar introduction at Leicester last season. This fixture, however, is at home, so should be less problematic. Yet it is important for Everton to win, with the remainder of August set to be challenging. A home fixture against Manchester City and away trips to Southampton and Spurs lie ahead.

TARGET: Seven points.

September

13 September – Chelsea (H)

20 September – Swansea City (A)

27 September – West Brom (A)

Aside from a home game against reigning champion Chelsea on the 13th, things even themselves out a little for the Toffees. Trips to Swansea and West Brom should both present themselves as very winnable fixtures, but, like August, maximising points will be crucial with more tough fixtures in the ensuing months.

TARGET: Five points.

October

4 October – Liverpool (H)

18 October – Manchester United (H)

25 October – Arsenal (A)

October could make or break Everton’s season. A trio of matches against some of the league’s heaviest hitters are all winnable, but the Blues could just as easily end the month without claiming a point. At the very least, a Merseyside Derby victory would suffice with fans.

TARGET: Four points.

November

1 November – Sunderland (H)

8 November – West Ham United (A)

22 November – Aston Villa (H)

29 November – AFC Bournemouth (A)

After the testing month of October, November should present itself as a serious opportunity for Roberto Martinez’s team to assert itself on the league. Like Everton, Sunderland, West Ham and Villa finished the 2014-15 season in the bottom half of the table, while Bournemouth was famously promoted from the Championship. Without knowing what to anticipate from the Cherries, the Blues could easily emerge from 2015’s penultimate month with maximum points.

TARGET: 10 points.

December

6 December – Crystal Palace (H)

13 December – Norwich City (A)

20 December – Leicester City (H)

27 December – Newcastle United (A)

29 December – Stoke City (H)

Like November, December is littered with opportunity and can set the Blues up well for a crack at the New Year. Fifteen points from the month is a long shot and probably unrealistic, but the Merseyside club has had its share of trouble against Crystal Palace in particular at home since its promotion, and we are all well aware of the problems Stoke can bring with it for opposing teams.

TARGET: Nine points.

January

3 January – Tottenham Hotspur (H)

14 January – Manchester City (A)

17 January – Chelsea (A)

24 January – Swansea City (H)

The first month of the New Year brings with it the first batch of return fixtures, and it is a tough grouping for Everton, with trips to Stamford Bridge and the Etihad the tip of the iceberg. Swansea and Tottenham will present their share of problems, yet are winnable matches. Overall, a tough month in which points will be hard earned.

TARGET: Three points.

February

4 February – Newcastle United (H)

7 February – Stoke City (A)

14 February – West Brom (H)

28 February – Liverpool (A)

February will be an important month after what could be a bumpy January. Yet this month is not smooth sailing by any means, with the second instalment of the Merseyside Derby to be played at Anfield and a trip to the troublesome Britannia. However, the Toffees should go into home matches against Newcastle and West Brom aiming to convincingly wrap up six points.

TARGET: Seven points.

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March

2 March – Aston Villa (A)

6 March – West Ham United (H)

13 March – Sunderland (A)

20 March – Arsenal (H)

March could well be another month in which the Toffees put their best foot forward. Matches with Villa, West Ham and Sunderland should all come as chances for maximum points, but are far from foregone conclusions against somewhat unpredictable opposition. A home clash with Arsenal looks to be a more straightforward enigma – a tight, high quality contest. The Blues have scored five goals against the Gunners in their previous two outings at Goodison.

TARGET: Eight points.

April

3 April – Manchester United (A)

10 April – Watford (A)

17 April – Southampton (H)

24 April – Crystal Palace (A)

The hugely important month of April will be one spent mostly on the road by Everton, difficult and dangerous trips mixed into the late season. United at home is always a tough proposition and had been a graveyard for the Blues until 2013, when a Bryan Oviedo goal delivered his side a first victory at Old Trafford since 1992. A good recent history in South London has not seen the Toffees concede at Selhurst Park since the Eagles were promoted, but Watford could well be scrapping to avoid relegation by April 10. Southampton is no sure bet either, but the Saints have not beaten Everton away from home since they returned to the top flight.

TARGET: Seven points.

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May

1 May – AFC Bournemouth (H)

8 May – Leicester City (A)

16 May – Norwich City (A)

The final month of the season could easily be the toughest yet for the Toffees. Each of Bournemouth, Leicester and Norwich look, from the outset at least, to be contestants in the race to avoid the drop, so the prospect of facing those clubs at their respective homes in desperate times would be a sticky prospect for Everton.

TARGET: Five points.

All things considered, the draw handed to the club from Merseyside is a tough one. The bloc of fixtures from October through November seems to be the its most important period of the season, with a run of opponents who will either be seeking the league crown or desperate for a Champions League placing. Everton could easily be amongst those teams if it can successfully negotiate these two months.

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