Analysis of Everton’s 2020-21 Premier League fixture list

The 2020-21 Premier League fixture list is out, and Everton begin the new season with a difficult away tie, playing at Tottenham Hotspur. The home opener comes the week after that, with newly promoted West Bromwich Albion visiting.

Below is Everton’s schedule in its entirety, with some quick thoughts on the best and worst months facing the Blues.

September ’20

12/9/2020 A Tottenham Hotspur v Everton - Yet another away start to the season, this time at a top six side we’ve last beaten in 2012, at a ground that we’ve not won at since 2008 (including Spurs’ old home at White Hart Lane).. well, what could go wrong?

19/09/2020 H Everton v West Bromwich Albion - The Blues’ first game at Goodison Park is likely going to still be behind closed-doors as former Everton defender Slaven Bilić brings the Baggies to Merseyside.

26/09/2020 A Crystal Palace v Everton - This was the first game of the 2019-20 season, and the Blues will return to London for the second time in a fortnight.

Overall, this is not a bad first set of fixtures. The Blues are going to be looking at at least 4-6 points out of those games. There will be three League Cup fixtures early in the month too, a must-win for the Blues pretty much especially if none of the clubs involved in Europe will be participating in the competition.

October ’20

3/10/2020 H Everton v Brighton - The first of two home games, but the transfer window will closes soon after this game for Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands to put the finishing touches to their squad.

17/10/2020 H Everton v Liverpool - Much acrimony around this already since the home leg of the Merseyside Derby may once again be played behind closed doors and no atmosphere, with the Anfield leg possibly at normal capacity.

24/10/2020 A Southampton v Everton - Two games against opponents that ended the season around us, but these are the away games that Ancelotti will need to find ways to win if the Blues are to challenge for the top six.

31/10/2020 A Newcastle United v Everton - This was Ancelotti’s first away win last season after taking over the reins at Everton, will be looking to replicate that result.

Only one top six opponent this month, but again the Blues have a chance to pick up some points.

November ’20

7/11/2020 H Everton v Manchester United - Everton had United beaten at Goodison Park in 2019, and will be looking to repeat that act against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.

21/11/2020 A Fulham v Everton - The Toffees had been humbled at the Cottagers two seasons ago when their hosts were last in the Premier League, despite being on a nine-game losing streak before that.

28/11/2020 H Everton v Leeds United - A high-profile clash against a high-profile opponent who are very happy to be back in the Premier League.

If the Blues are going to show that they are worthy of a spot in Europe then these are three winnable games. Whether Ancelotti’s men will deliver on the pitch though, remains to be seen.

December ’20

5/12/2020 A Burnley v Everton - It’s saying something when your easiest tie of the month is a trip to Turf Moor. This is not a joke.

12/12/2020 H Everton v Chelsea - The Blues beat the other Blues quite handily at Goodison Park last season, but the Stamford Bridge side loaded with all their shiny new toys will pose a much tougher challenge this time around.

15/12/2020 A Leicester City v Everton - Will the Foxes still be pissed off following their precipitous slide out of the Champions League spots starting with the loss at Goodison last season?

19/12/2020 H Everton v Arsenal - The Blues wasted the opportunity to beat an Arsenal there for the taking when both clubs had transition managers in charge last season. Will they line up Gabriel as centre-half just to tick us off even more?

26/12/2020 A Sheffield United v Everton - The Blades surprised the entire league with their first season back in the top flight, playing compact defence and fighting to a man. What will Chris Wilder do for an encore next season, armed with some transfer funds?

28/12/2020 H Everton v Manchester City - 2020 has been a hellish year for pretty much most of the world. What better way for the Toffees to close it out than playing City, looking to recapture whatever it is we did to beat them 4-0 when Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman burst into the limelight?

The festive calendar is always packed with fixtures, and this promises to be a brutal month for the Blues, with five opponents in a row who not only finished ahead of the Blues last season, but also all between positions #2 and #9. If Everton are still alive in the Carabao Cup then the going will get that much tougher too.

January ’21

2/1/2021 H Everton v West Ham United - It’s never a cupcake fixture, but it’s been nice welcoming David Moyes back to Goodison as we’ve beaten him handily pretty much every time since he left.

12/1/2021 A Wolverhampton v Everton - The Blues were soundly spanked in this one behind closed doors as any chances of making Europe evaporated in a limp showing. Wolves will be smarting after not getting to the Europa League themselves.

16/01/2021 A Aston Villa v Everton - The Villans secured survival on the last day of last season, and had beaten the Blues 2-0 in this fixture last season. The Blues were miserable against the newly-promoted trio last season, they will need to be better this season.

26/01/2021 H Everton v Leicester City - The return leg against the Foxes will come quickly, just a month after they first play. Are the Blues still going to be in the European picture at this point?

30/01/2021 H Everton v Newcastle United - Despite the presence of Ancelotti in the dugout the Blues had thrown away a two-goal lead with seconds to play at home last time around, they will need to kill off the Magpies better than that this time.

A slightly easier January will follow after a challenging December. The transfer window will be open as well for Ancelotti and Brands to strengthen where they can while offloading more deadwood they were unable to get rid of in the summer.

February ’21

2/2/2021 A Leeds United v Everton - Will Leeds be tearing it up like Wolves did, or are they going to be struggling for survival? Either way, this is going to be a tough trip.

6/2/2021 A Manchester United v Everton - Another road game for the Blues, can they make it a second win in the last decade at Old Trafford?

13/02/2021 H Everton v Fulham - If the Blues are still in top six contention, then this is a game they have to get three points out of.

20/02/2021 A Liverpool v Everton - Merseyside Derby yada yada Anfield yada yada no away wins in over two decades yada yada.

27/02/2021 H Everton v Southampton - The Saints pipped the Blues to 11th in 2019-20, how will things look this season?

This is another five-game month that the Blues should be thrilled about getting about ten points from.

March ’21

6/3/2021 A Chelsea v Everton - Chelsea are going to likely still be in the Champions League at this point, and Everton will be looking to catch them off guard here.

13/03/2021 H Everton v Burnley - One of two games this month that are ‘must win’, breaking down Sean Dyche’s defensive block will be challenging.

20/03/2021 A West Bromwich Albion v Everton - If the Blues are still active in the FA Cup then they will need to ensure they don’t look past the Baggies here.

An easier month that leads into a quiet beginning of April for the Toffees.

April ’21

3/4/2021 H Everton v Crystal Palace - Palace are not good travellers so Everton should expect and get goals.

10/4/2021 A Brighton v Everton - Everton were shafted in this fixture last season with a VAR-upheld penalty that allowed the hosts to roar back into this game and eventually win it.

17/04/2021 H Everton v Tottenham Hotspur - Another game that VAR came into question, with the virtual ref coming in for some heat after a Spurs handball in the box was ignored.

24/04/2021 A Arsenal v Everton - The Blues are yet to win at Arsenal in this century. No pressure.

With four games this month, the Toffees will need to be spot on because the finale to the Premier League promises to be terrifying.

May ’21

1/5/2021 H Everton v Aston Villa - Are Villa going to be mired in a relegation scrap at this point? Where will Everton be?

8/5/2021 A West Ham United v Everton - A trip to London breaks up the monotony of three home games to close out the season.

11/5/2021 H Everton v Sheffield United - Blues take on the Blades at home in the penultimate clash of the season, looking to close out Europa League qualification.

15/05/2021 H Everton v Wolverhampton - Wolves are another team that will have their sights set on Europe this late in the season.

23/05/2021 A Manchester City v Everton - Just like this was one of the least desirable games to close out the calendar year 2020, one can only hope the Blues will not need a result from this game to get anywhere.

December is by far the most brutal month, but the May schedule to finish out the season is going to be just as tasking for the Blues.

NOTE: The dates for these games are not final, with more than a handful of them expected to be moved to fit television broadcast requirements.