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The big tests are starting to get tough and fast for Everton after a fantastic start to the season.
The Blues have risen to the top of the Premier League and have a League Cup quarter-final in December to look forward to thanks to a brilliant record in their opening matches.
Seven consecutive victories in all competitions were enough to keep the mood at Goodison Park higher than it has been for a long time, and to dream a little about what could happen this season.
Carlo Ancelotti and his team have turned things around in a short space of time and finally seem ready to achieve the kind of ambitions the Evertonians are desperate for.
But there is interesting evidence on the horizon. One of those has already happened, of course, with Liverpool making the short trip through Stanley Park last weekend for Saturday’s 2-2 draw in the Merseyside derby.
Jurgen Klopp’s side is the reigning Premier League champions and played well against their closest rivals, but the Blues defended themselves on a goal against twice to secure a draw.
Considering some chances Everton had in the second half, they could have won that match. And that without playing with the very high level that they have set this season.
However, there were failures against Liverpool. Ancelotti’s team did not come out of the game with great success and, for the first time this season, they also did not end a match with a victory.
So heading into this weekend’s game against Southampton, the first real test will be on the mindset of the Blues.
That strong attitude, coupled with the force of sheer momentum, carried Ancelotti’s men through the first matches of the campaign and allowed them to play great football along the way.
That was stunted for the first time against Liverpool last weekend. The Reds are one of the best teams in the league, of course, so drawing with them is not an easy task, but it is imperative to get back on the winning track as soon as possible.
A trip to face Southampton is certainly not an easy prospect in that regard.
In recent seasons, this is the kind of game that has so often tripped Everton and held them back.
Before Ancelotti’s arrival, the club’s away record was not up to par. The Blues weren’t scoring points consistently enough along the way.
Since the Italian arrived, the tide has turned a bit. Everton have already had two tough away games in the Premier League this season and won them both, against Spurs and Crystal Palace.
Leaving behind the draw against Liverpool and concentrating on adding three points to another difficult opponent this time will have to be at the top of the agenda once again.
But it will have to be done without some of the club’s most important players.
Suddenly this test looks like it could be the toughest of the season so far.
Richarlison is not in this weekend’s game due to suspension, which would have been a huge absence from the team itself thanks to the influence he still has.
But, Seamus Coleman will also be out. The club captain has been one of the many featured artists in 2020/21 and his performances have been crucial to several victories.
On top of that, James Rodriguez could also miss out on this weekend’s game as he is still suffering from an injury he sustained in the first minute against Liverpool thanks to a reckless challenge from Virgil van Dijk.
He, of course, managed to evolve Everton in an offensive sense this season. Pick the most Blues goals so far when you’ve been on the pitch, and you can bet the Colombian international has played a big role at some point in the move.
This now becomes a challenge for the rest of the team to step up and ensure that losing these influential players does not have an adverse effect on the outcome.
Can Ben Godfrey or Jonjoe Kenny take on that right-back role effectively? Yes, both have shown this season that they can.
In terms of both positions on the wing, all Alex Iwobi, Anthony Gordon and Bernard are sure to fight for those positions against Southampton.
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The opportunity that the three of them were waiting for could be at their feet, the opportunity to show Ancelotti what they can offer.
The trio have impressed in a number of games this season, but stepping up and helping to secure three Premier League points would be very important in the long run.
For the first time in this period, Everton have a few things against them heading into this game, and there are intriguing questions to answer.
If this squad can answer them correctly, then they could pass their biggest set of tests yet.
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