Everton struggled for much of the 2022-23 Premier League season just like in the 2021-22 season battling relegation and ended up narrowly escaping relegation.
They achieved this on the final day of the season with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth courtesy of Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, and largely have manager Sean Dyche to thank after taking over the dugout from Frank Lampard.
Best player: Alex Iwobi
The Nigeria international was very consistent for the Toffees as he played virtually every minute of the season, a feat that only a few players were able to achieve.
He also contributed to goals, having a hand in 10 goals (two goals, eight assists).
Iwobi’s work rate, tenancy and creativity were all crucial in helping Everton beat the relegation zone.
Flop Signing: Neal Maupay
The Frenchman was expected to improve the Everton frontline after impressing for Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2021-23 season where he had a hand in 10 goals (eight goals, two assists) en route to the Seagulls finishing an impressive ninth.
Maupay however failed to live up to those expectations, scoring just once in 27 appearances, most of them off the bench.
Best game: Everton 1-0 Arsenal
This was the first game of Sean Dyche and it turned out to be one of the best performances of the season for the Toffees, putting no foot wrong with a lot of discipline and concentration.
Centre-back James Tarkowski was the goalscorer on the day with a powerful header from a Dwight McNeil corner and it was the turning point towards survival at the end of the campaign.
Worst result: Arsenal 4-0 Everton
Results continued to improve under Dyche but when facing the Gunners away from home, they could not replicate the same form at Goodison Park, this time falling to goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli (brace) and Martin Odegaard.
It turned out to be their heaviest defeat of the season.
Top scorer: Dwight McNeil
The 23-year-old was a summer signing from Burnley and was good value for money as he had a hand in 10 goals (seven goals, three assists).
His best performance came in Everton’s 5-1 victory at Brighton, a result that gave them a significant advantage towards beating the drop.
