Everton 2018/19

Everton, or the Toffees as they are known, are a football club based in Merseyside city, Liverpool. Their rivals, across Stanley Park, are much more successful than they are, but both clubs are steeped in history. Everton were formed in 1878 and originally called St Domingo FC. They play their home games at Goodison Park and have done for their entire history. The stadium holds 40,000 seats. The Toffees have been champions of England no fewer than nine times, most recently in 1987; their last major trophy came in 1995, when they beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. They reached another final in 2009, but lost to Chelsea. They have not had much luck in Europe, qualifying for the Champions League in 2005 only to fall at the qualification stage against Villarreal under former boss David Moyes, who was in charge for 11 years between 2002 and 2013. But they did win the old European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 under the late Howard Kendall.

Other than Moyes and Kendall, notable former players Wayne Rooney, who started his career at Goodison Park as a teenager before a £30million move to Manchester United, where he would go on to become their record goalscorer before returning to Everton in 2017. He scored nine goals in 31 games before leaving for MLS side DC United. Others include Duncan Ferguson, the Scottish striker who had two spells at the club, Tim Cahill, Tommy Lawton and Neville Southall.

Their all time top scorer is Dixie Dean, who scored 383 goals in 433 games. He is ahead of Graeme Sharp, who scored 159 goals in 426 games. Neville Southall holds the record for the most appearances in the club’s history. The Welsh goalkeeping legend made 750 appearances between 1981 and 1998. Leighton Baines is the most experienced player currently playing; heading into the new season, he has 394 appearances to his name, and for the first time since his 2007 move from Wigan Athletic, he may not be first choice after the arrival of French fullback Lucas Digne from Barcelona.

Everton squad 2018/19

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford, Maarten Stekelenburg

Defender: Leighton Baines, Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka, Cuco Martina, Seamus Coleman, Jonjoe Kenny, Lucas Digne, Mason Holgate

Midfielder: Morgan Schneiderlin, Yannick Bolasie, James McCarthy, Idrissa Gueye, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Tom Davies, Beni Baningime, Theo Walcott,

Forwards: Richarlison, Cenk Tosun, Oumar Niasse, Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Everton 2018/19 prediction

Everton are a curious case; they are a club full of both potential and ambition but it is yet to come to fruition since new owner Farhad Moshiri took control of the club. Roberto Martinez’s reign started well but ended poorly, similarly to Ronald Koeman, who was sacked last season. Sam Allardyce was then hired on an 18-month contract but sacked in the summer despite saving them from relegation. A lot of money has been spent over the last few years, and Marco Silva, the new boss, has made one huge splash, signing Richarlison from former club Watford for £40million.

The likes of Theo Walcott, Cenk Tosun, Michael Keane and all the other signings made in the last year must step up under Silva. The pressure is on everyone to hit the ground running; after qualifying for Europe in 2017, Moshiri and Bill Kenwright will expect to get back there and perform better than they did last season, being knocked out at the group stage. It will be a very interesting season, and Silva has a real point to prove after a bizarre spell in charge at Watford. The Toffees should be good for a European push.

Everton 2018/19 best offers

Top six finish @ 4/1 with Coral

Top ten finish @ 1/3

Handicap win – Everton +34 @ 17/1