And so it begins - six chaotic weeks of a Premier League season unlike any other. It feels strange to write of yet another 'unprecedented campaign' after the turmoil caused by the pandemic, but once again we are approaching unknown territory. In this case, the uncharted waters are significant.
The next six weeks will definehttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/everton-fc
season. It is not just the 24 points and the spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup up for grabs. The nine games of this period will have a major say in Frank Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell's January transfer strategy, and set the tone for contract discussions over the several players whose deals run out next summer.
With all this in mind, it is difficult to overstate the importance of what happens between the trip to Southampton and the return to the south coast for the game with Bournemouth on November 12 - Everton's final league game until after the World Cup.
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Lampard is treating this period like a "mini-season". In his pre-Southampton press conference he said he had set his players the target of simply getting as many points as they can. This is crucial because results will matter over the coming weeks, positive performances will have to be turned into wins if Everton are to build a foundation for a season in which they are to stay clear of trouble.
The signs have been good so far. Despite another injury crisis and a transfer window that seeped too far into this season, progress has been clear since that opening day defeat to Chelsea. Everton are more robust, more resilient and more progressive.
Five unbeaten and consecutive clean sheets was a solid way to end the first stage of this fragmented campaign. Everyone associated with the Blues has slept better during the international break thanks to Neal Maupay's moment of brilliance clinching a first win of the season. A similar feeling of comfort is hoped for during the long, quiet weeks of late November and December.
Lampard knows this is no time for complacency. Speaking to reporters, including myself, at Finch Farm on Thursday, he said: "I feel like Evertonians are seeing progress and feeling it, and if that is exciting then great. But I am not settling for that because I know what this league is like and, again, we haven't won enough games to really back that up.
"What we are seeing is an unbeaten run and players playing with a bit of pride and personality and week after week a bit more confidence at this moment, so that is probably it. Outside of Everton I don’t think too many people are talking about it and that is fine because if we want to make waves we have to win more games. We haven't managed to do that yet but we are working towards it."
Everton will clock up the miles over the next six weeks with a gruelling schedule that will take in the two trips to the south coast in the league, journeys to Newcastle United, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, and the Carabao Cup game that is also at Bournemouth. It is a daunting fixture list on the pitch and a frustratingly organised one off it.
It is hard to see how fans could be at the forefront of the scheduling when this run includes evening kick-offs at Fulham and Spurs, a Sunday night game at home to Manchester United and a midweek date in the North East. It is the kind of schedule that would give travelling supporters nightmares - if they actually had the time to sleep amid all the hours due to be spent on road and rail. But there are positives - and they go beyond the good signs that have already been visible on the pitch.
After a disappointing start to the season with injuries, Lampard should welcome back Jordan Pickford for the game at St Mary's, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin - upon whose shoulders so much excitement currently rests - is on the brink of a return. Mason Holgate is around a fortnight away while the initial predictions placed Yerry Mina's comeback in this run of matches.
With Lampard having had another fortnight to integrate and mould those who were not on international duty, Everton should continue to grow into this season. Hitting the ground running on Saturday would be a useful way to start this crucial period - and to add the substance to the initial signs of progress that Lampard craves.
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