Goodison Curse: Unraveling Everton's Astonishing 4 Home Defeats – What's Gone Wrong?

Everton's home form has resembled a dormant Welsh town since November 2022, with a recent sequence of results reading LLLLWWLWDLLLWLLLL. Unfortunately, last Saturday's match against newly-promoted Luton added to their woes, extending the streak to 13 defeats in 19 home games. This current run of form marks Everton's worst performance in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche managed to avoid being the first manager in top-division history to lose four consecutive home games without scoring a goal in a season. However, this meager achievement did little to provide any solace. As the seconds slipped away on the touchline, Dyche appeared drained, soaked, and devoid of inspiration. Everton's record at Goodison Park has now plummeted to seven defeats out of their last eight matches, and a staggering 12 losses from their previous 16 games.

Luton's man of the match Alfie Doughty said: "It's not an easy place to come to but we showed such good character."

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Everton have not scored more than once in any of their last 17 Premier League homes

Clearly, the initial claim is incorrect as Goodison Park has noticeably become less formidable. The Gwladys Street stand, once a fierce and intimidating environment, has now lost its intensity. However, in the upcoming season, the club intends to relocate to their new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.

Throughout 132 seasons, Goodison Park has been the solid foundation of a devoted community and the cherished home of Everton Football Club. Yet, in what could potentially be its last season, supporters have yet to experience the joy of victory music and the celebration of 'It's a Grand Old Team' echoing through the speakers after the final whistle.

It is challenging to determine exactly when and how the Old Lady's aura disappeared.

Even in Carlo Ancelotti's sole complete season at the club, Everton fell just three points short of securing a spot in the Europa Conference League, but they were placed 15th in terms of home league points, suffering nine losses.

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Everton have lost four home Premier League games

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The return of fans after the pandemic had a somewhat neutralized impact due to the appointment of Rafael Benitez. It is only recently, under the leadership of Frank Lampard and Dyche, that Goodison has started to resemble its former self.

In their last 17 league home games, the team has failed to score more than once, managing only 11 goals. The only exception was nearly a year ago, in the 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace, when they scored more than once.

Dyche was extremely disappointed with his team's inability to capitalize on the momentum gained from back-to-back victories against Brentford in the league and Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup. In the presence of their enthusiastic fans, the players in blue seem to be struggling with a mental barrier.

Providing coverage for the game on Soccer Special, Sue Smith correctly observed: "After Luton scored, you could clearly see the nervousness on their faces. They appeared somewhat frightened. Their performance away from home has been much superior. They must improve at Goodison Park and make the most of their chances."

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"It's been two years of the same monotonous routine," Dyche remarked. "There needs to be a stronger mindset to engage in the unattractive aspects, the arduous tasks that pave the way for successful teams."

I refer to it as "all-rightness," but it doesn't yield any results. You need to constantly stay on top of things. We've recently made a significant progress, only to unexpectedly regress again, and it frustrates me immensely.

Out of their 45 Premier League games since the beginning of last season, Everton have had more possession in eight. Unfortunately, they have only managed to win once, while losing six and drawing in the remaining matches.

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That win came against West Ham in September last season. Under Dyche, they have only had more possession than their opponents against Sheffield United and Luton this season.

The ability to enter the opponent's defense and take advantage of open spaces during a transition is a significant issue, particularly when playing at home. Those observing from the stands last Saturday, including representatives from potential new owners 777 Partners, would have undoubtedly recognized the immense challenge in turning the club's luck around.

During his meeting with them two weeks ago, Dyche was primarily interrogated about our opinions on the club and suggestions for improvement. He stated, "I strive to provide a truthful perspective on the situation, altering the narrative. I made it clear that it is my responsibility, as well as ours, to effect change. I believe there was further evidence of this - numerous instances of strong intent, excellent scoring opportunities; all that remains is refining our finishing touch."

Dyche is experiencing the same challenges faced by his predecessors in the Farhad Moshiri era, even though nearly £700m has been invested during the Iranian businessman's time.

The directors' box was filled for the first time since January, but the attendance of potential new owners did not bring any improvement. The current series of home losses is almost unparalleled in the club's history.

Everton have suffered four consecutive home defeats at the start of a league season for only the second time in their history. The first occurrence was during the 1958-59 campaign under Ian Buchan, who was subsequently dismissed after just a month. Despite the team's promising away triumphs against Brentford and Villa in both league and cup matches, showcasing their potential, they have been consistently struggling to deliver similar performances when playing in front of their home crowd.

Results against newly-promoted teams have consistently been a major source of frustration since Marco Silva's tenure at the club. While one or two losses could be dismissed as a temporary setback, a clear pattern of defeats has become evident. The team has now suffered nine losses out of 14 matches against newly-promoted sides.

Is it a matter of complacency or is Everton simply lacking the capability to break through defenses that are content with surrendering possession?

During his appearance on Monday Night Football, Lampard expressed, "Goodison Park has the potential to be a remarkable venue. Every now and then, even the top teams in the league struggle to secure victories there. This trend has continued both during my time in the game and long before I arrived."

When you are entrusted with the responsibility of leading a game involving a promoted team, it presents a whole new set of challenges. Can you effectively control the game? How skilled are you with the ball? Can you successfully break down the opposing team's defense? Naturally, these promoted teams are now highly organized and well-prepared. They are fully aware that their best chance of success lies in stifling and stopping you. I'm certain that Luton, with their back five, will make it incredibly hard for us. It seems that consistently scoring from set pieces gives us an advantage, but it's also frustrating because Goodison Park should truly be an impenetrable fortress.

Lampard stated that the significance of the games for Everton, both in the past and presently, cannot be underestimated. The ability to challenge and pose difficulties for top-tier teams like Arsenal or Manchester City at Goodison Park is essential; however, it is crucial to accumulate points in matches against teams in the lower half of the table.

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Bournemouth will be traveling to Merseyside this weekend to face Everton. Despite not having won a game in the Premier League this season, similar to Luton, the Cherries will see Saturday's match as an opportunity to secure three points.

In their previous six home matches, Everton has only scored twice. Additionally, they hold the record for the most home league defeats (10) and the fewest home league goals in the history of the club. Last season, Everton scored the fewest goals out of all the teams in the division, with a total of 16.

When asked by Jamie Carragher if the unsuccessful tenures of Ancelotti and Silva indicate that Everton is impossible to manage, Lampard responded by acknowledging the challenge. He mentioned that describing it as "unmanageable" is not entirely accurate. Instead, he believes that Everton presents numerous challenges due to each manager's personal ideas and philosophies. Lampard added that Everton is a distinctive club in the league and expressed admiration for many positive aspects of it.

The fans were a constant source of support for us during our challenging times - their incredible actions boosted the players' morale. However, they also possess a strong desire for their specific preferences. Some of their expectations align perfectly with the fundamental aspects of football: the enthusiasm and physicality. I wholeheartedly resonate with these aspects.

Nevertheless, as a coach, there are occasions when I want to progress further and implement a more expansive style of play. I aspire to engage in matches where we are expected to dominate possession and display skillful execution. It is crucial to truly understand and embrace the fans' desires at this club, as their influence holds significant weight.

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"With the array of managers, including Champions League-winning ones, and those who have had success elsewhere like Marco Silva, who is currently excelling at Fulham, it is evident that Everton's unique style can be both advantageous and challenging from a coaching perspective."

Last season, all six of the club's home victories were achieved without conceding a goal, with five 1-0 wins in addition to a dominant 3-0 triumph over Palace. Under Dyche's leadership, scoring the first goal is crucial for Everton, as they have only managed to gather two points after falling behind during his tenure.

Conversely, Everton have not lost in nine games when scoring first under their current manager, winning six.

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Everton secured their top-flight status for a record-breaking 70th consecutive season with a victory against Bournemouth on the final day of last season. Lampard, like Dyche, emphasized the importance of disregarding the past and rewriting the narrative.

"The Everton fans who work behind the scenes, including the dedicated kit men and all the individuals involved, embody the true essence of Everton," he expressed. "It's remarkable to witness this strong connection; however, it also presents a dichotomy between the positive and negative aspects."

The wonderful aspect is that they live and cherish it with immense passion for the club. However, there was a hint of skepticism, a relatable cynicism of having experienced tough seasons in the past. As a fan, I understand it all too well.

To my surprise, there was a notable level of resignation towards relegation, though I'm specifically not referring to the fans.

A sense of desperation seemed to permeate the entire club, and it was this aspect that I felt compelled to address and transform. Numerous meetings with players and staff were arranged, during which I emphasized the urgent need to shed this mindset. In order for Everton to break free from their ongoing struggle, it is imperative that we eradicate the negativity that has surrounded our home games, starting this weekend.

Follow Everton vs Bournemouth on We' digital platforms from 1.30pm on Saturday; kick-off 3pm; free highlights available from 5.15pm