Marco Silva must improve Everton’s abysmal away record at the ‘big six’ if they are to be taken seriously

Since Farhad Moshiri started his ongoing investment at Goodison Park, Everton have been in a perpetual state of transition. 

The Iranian billionaire’s first project, following the removal of Roberto Martinez as manager, was to appoint Dutch icon Ronald Koeman to the Everton hot-seat, with Steve Walsh, the man responsible for bringing the likes of N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez into Leicester City’s title-winning squad, moving upstairs as Director of Football.

Despite a bright start, with the Toffees finishing seventh in the Dutchman’s first season in charge, it didn’t last. A failure to replace top-scorer Romelu Lukaku and a complete defensive collapse, compounded by a Europa League group stage exit and 5-2 home humiliation against Arsenal, lead to Koeman being dismissed.

The rest of the campaign was presided over by caretaker manager David Unsworth, then Sam Allardyce. Although the two managed to guide Everton to the safety of an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, Allardyce was swiftly relieved of his duties at the end of the season with a real feeling of apathy surrounding the club.

The 2018 summer break brought another overhaul at Everton, with long-time target Marco Silva taking the reigns in the Goodison dugout, while highly-regarded Dutchman Marcel Brands left his Director of Football post at PSV Eindhoven to replace Steve Walsh. A host of exciting signings, such as Bernard, Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne, Kurt Zouma and Richarlison saw an air of optimism return to the Everton faithful.

And, a home defeat to West Ham aside, Silva’s Everton have been very easy on the eye and their attacking football has vastly improved in the early stages of this season. Evertonians will be able to draw a line under the West Ham defeat, with much of their squad out through injury and suspension, providing it is swiftly rectified.

However, something Silva must address this season is Everton’s abysmal away record at the Premier League’s ‘big six’. This is something that has haunted the club for years, with season-in-season-out drubbings at Anfield, Old Trafford, the Emirates and beyond. It is something they simply must rectify if Moshiri’s Everton revolution is to be taken seriously.

And, with a trip to north London to face Arsenal looming large, Squawka has taken a look at Everton’s record when travelling to the Premier League’s now firmly established top-six sides to see just how badly they have done… even before they became members of their own mini league.

Everton away record vs Arsenal 

Away record in the Premier League (W/D/L): 1/5/20

Last away win in the Premier League: 2-1, January 1996

We could probably start the beginning of each section with the words ‘Everton are probably sick of the sight of this place’. However, it is more poignant at Arsenal than any other away fixture in the Premier League for Everton.

Everton’s last, and only, away win at Arsenal was a 2-1 triumph all the way back in 1996 with Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis scoring the goals as the Toffees came behind after an Ian Wright opener for the Gunners. 

Everton have conceded 105 Premier League goals against Arsenal and are the only to team to concede over 100 goals against a single opponent in Premier League history – away defeats with scorelines reading 7-0 (2005), 5-1 and regular four-goal drubbings certainly haven’t helped that stat.

This Sunday represents a chance for Everton to not only pick up a long-overdue win at Arsenal but end a sequence of four straight league defeats at the Emirates in which they have shipped 12 goals.

Everton away record vs Chelsea

Away record in the Premier League (W/D/L): 1/10/15

Last away win in the Premier League: 1-0, November 1994

Everton may have picked up more points away to Chelsea than Arsenal, just, but their wait for an away win at Stamford bridge goes back even further.

You have to go all the way back to November 1994, when a Paul Rideout goal sealed a 1-0 scoreline, for Everton’s last victory at Stamford Bridge and, since then, they have been nothing short if diabolical in south-west London.

Everton have lost six out of their last seven outings at Stamford Bridge, including a 5-0 horror-show in 2016 in which Ronald Koeman tried, and failed, to match Antonio Conte’s back three system.

Everton away record vs Liverpool

Away record in the Premier League (W/D/L): 2/12/12

Last away win in the Premier League: 1-0, September 1999

Given the difference in quality that has often been found between the two sides in the Premier League era, Everton’s 12 draws away to Liverpool is quite respectable.

However, Evertonians should probably look away now – their last away win in the Merseyside Derby was back in September 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored the winner in a 1-0 win.

In their last seven visits to Anfield, the blue half of Merseyside have taken just three points and shipped 15 goals, including a Steven Gerrard hat-trick in 2012, and have generally dreaded this fixture coming around every season.

Everton away record vs Manchester City

Away record in the Premier League (W/D/L): 7/4/10

Last away win in the Premier League: 2-1, December 2010

Everton’s Premier League away record to Manchester City is comfortably better than against any other member of the ‘big six’ but we should all take a moment to remember that the Citizens weren’t always this good.

Between 2008 and 2010, Everton actually won on all four of their trips to the Etihad with Tim Cahill often being the ‘scourge of City’. However, as Sheikh Mansour’s grip over Man City tightened, so Everton’s good away record at the club faded away.

Since that impressive run, Everton have only managed four away points against City and have often been lucky to come away with a draw at all.

Everton away record vs Manchester United

Away record in the Premier League (W/D/L): 2/5/19

Last away win in the Premier League: 1-0, December 2013

Ironically, Everton’s first Premier League trip to Old Trafford was a resounding 3-0 win back in 1992. However, that proved to be anything but a sign of things to come.

Their last away win against the Red Devils was a Brian Oviedo-inspired 1-0 in December 2013, while the 4-4 draw between the two at Old Trafford in 2012 is seen as one of the defining moments as Man United lost the Premier League title to Manchester City.

These highlights, though, are most certainly few-and-far-between and, as was the case in their most recent trip to the Theatre of Dreams, 4-0 whippings have not been uncommon. In fact, since that famous 4-4 draw, Everton have taken just one point from five games at Old Trafford, conceding 10 goals and only scoring twice.

Everton away record vs Tottenham Hotspur

Away record in the Premier League (W/D/L): 3/7/16

Last away win in the Premier League: 1-0, November 2008

In a strange twist, all three of Everton’s away wins against Tottenham came in consecutive visits to White Hart Lane. Unfortunately for Everton, the last of these was via a Steven Pienaar strike nearly a decade ago.

Since then, their fortunes against the Lilywhites have gotten worse as Spurs have overtaken them in terms of footballing quality, establishing themselves among the Premier League’s finest.

As a result, Everton are now enduring a run of four defeats and one draw in their last five trips to Tottenham, shipping 10 goals in the process.

Everton all-time Premier League away record vs ‘big six’

Played: 151

Won: 16 (48

Drawn: 43

Lost: 92

Points per away trip: 0.60

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