Southgate - You're the One!

So very nearly the top spot! You won the game expected of you, Spain are tough though. You'll beat them next time!

Griffo: Basically competitive friendlies so fans usually not too fussed

ScottT: Yes, got to bring these players through!

TheLFCFan: Not ideal, but still a satisfactory campaign.

Justice: Ever so close, but nevertheless a decent campaign

Everton came into the festive period of December on the back of five straight wins as they begun the month with the visit of Chelsea. Top goal scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the Toffees the lead just after half an hour, before a Chelsea equaliser on the brink of half time earnt the Blues a point.

The Toffees were to face another tough challenge, this time in the form of 3rd in the league Arsenal as they made the trip to North London. Andre Gomes gave the visitors a lead on the half hour mark with a back-post header from a corner; Everton done well to hold on but had two points taken off of them at the death courtesy of a 20 yard strike from Hector Bellerin.

Things didn’t get any easier for Southgate’s men as just a week later they were welcoming the latter’s rivals Tottenham to Goodison Park. Nevertheless, the home side took the lead after a Celik long throw was nodded home by Richarlison at the near post just past the half hour mark. Sissoko equalised ten minutes into the second half to draw level, before Ruben Dias got the winner for Tottenham in second half stoppage time; before Edouard scored a penalty just a minute later to wrap up a 3-1 win for Tottenham.

Southgate’s Everton side aimed to get back to winning ways with a journey to East Anglia to take on Norwich City, where things started positively after an early goal from Celik. However, the hosts equalised early into the second half to deny the visitors from taking three points back to Merseyside.

West Ham United were the next visitors to Goodison Park on Boxing Day, where a tightly contested game was won with only minutes to spare as substitute Moise Kean scored his first goal of the season to get Everton their first win in five games.

The final game saw the Toffees travel to the south coast to take on Eddie Howe’s AFC Bournemouth side. Adam Hlozek gave the Blues the lead after a near post header from a long throw by Kurwaza; albeit this only last fifteen minute before Semenyo equalised for the Cherries around the sixty minute mark. Steve Cook then gave the hosts the leader after getting on the end of a free kick with ten minutes to play, which saw Everton go back to Merseyside with no points.

Not the best run of results and the gap above is starting to look daunting. Hopefully you can turn that around in the new year and pull Everton into the European places.

Some decent results to begin with but aside from the victory against West Ham a poor ending to the month.

To play the big three in London all in a row is one hell of an ask, very tough

Tough run of results, but also a tough run of games. Hope you can turn it around next month when you (hopefully) have some easier games!

A tough set of fixtures no doubt, but to go ahead in three games and not take the victory in at least one has to be a disappointment. Will need to turn that form around next month.

@Justice: Yeah gap getting slightly bigger than we wanted, but gotta keep fighting.

@ScottT: Agree, disappointing after some early promise.

@Griffo: Wasn't the easier run of fixtures in the world, no.

@Zed: Let's hope so!

TheLFCFan: Indeed, not great - but hopefully improvement is on its way!