EVERTON HAVE TO BEWARE, THEY’VE HAD IT EASY SO FAR

EVERYONE knows why Newcastle started the season poorly. Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. Only a visit to Cardiff has offered respite, and Newcastle would have won that had Kenedy (right) not missed an injury-time penalty. After playing Manchester United away on October 6, Newcastle will not meet another member of the top six until travelling to Anfield on Boxing Day, by which time we should have a clearer idea of their capabilities. Yet what of Everton? Sunday brought their first defeat of the season against West Ham but, despite few alarm bells, they have taken just one win from five matches that also included pairings with Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Huddersfield. The tough stuff is to come, starting at Arsenal next weekend and continuing between October 28 and December 22, when a run of nine Premier League matches contains meetings with Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham. Everton need to convert some of the gentler fixtures into victories if they are to prevent a dramatic slide.