It’s been 84 years…
Now we all know how an elderly Rose felt in Titanic after enduring the longest of international breaks.
There will have been 22 days between the win over Ipswich and Sunday’s trip to Hull, making it feel like a mid-season break.
Despite the criticism, I am in favour of the new structure, as it means one fewer week of international football overall. This allows for uninterrupted five-week runs of domestic football either side of this first break, with one final break to come in November.
The other positive for Everton is that it allows their small squad, internationals aside, to rest and recover from any niggles – crucial given their crippling lack of depth.
However, the downside is that it stalls the momentum gained from an unbeaten start to the season. Six games in five weeks – including a Carabao Cup meeting with Newcastle and a trip to the champions – now await the Toffees.
Then there is the off-field drama, with TFG confirming their desire to seek outside investment or sell the club entirely. Announcing the news just hours before a David Moyes press conference and 48 hours before a game was unusual timing, given that the three-week break had just passed. But at least Toffees fans can quickly focus on the football and park concerns about the club’s future for another day.
The opposition
Few Hull fans would have predicted Premier League football 18 months ago, when the Tigers were limping towards a 21st-place finish in the Championship in the 2024–25 season.
An issue over late payments for a loan player saw them hit with a transfer embargo that prevented them from paying fees, meaning they could only sign players on loan or as free agents.
Despite being dealt such a tough hand, new manager Sergej Jakirovic achieved what had felt impossible, securing a a sixth season in the top flight, courtesy of a play-off win over Middlesbrough.
All five of their previous Premier League campaigns came within the space of nine years, between 2008 and 2017. In 2020, they dropped down to League One before bouncing straight back the following year.
Their surprise promotion meant they were tipped not only for relegation but also to finish rock bottom. Early performances suggest they could spring a surprise. They have taken eight points from five games, including a win over Man Utd and a draw at Chelsea. A win on Sunday could see them climb as high as fourth.
Previous meeting
Hull 2–3 Everton (FA Cup third round – AET), 8 January 2022
We were in the dying embers of the Rafa Benítez reign when Everton travelled to Hull for the FA Cup third round at the start of 2022.
Everton fell behind after just 45 seconds, but goals from Demarai Gray and André Gomes put them ahead before half-time. The Tigers levelled after the break to send the game into extra time, where Andros Townsend scored a spectacular winner to send Everton through. Benítez was sacked eight days later.
Team news
Moyes is hopeful that Vitalii Mykolenko will be fit despite the defender missing three of Ukraine’s four games over the international break through injury. Given that he is the only senior left-back at the club, that would be good news.
Christian Norgaard came through a friendly against Blackburn during the break unscathed and could make his debut, though that will likely be from the bench.
Final word
Everton have not won away from home in the league in seven matches, a run stretching back to February.
Hull should represent the ideal opponents to end that run, although the Tigers are unbeaten at home and have yet to concede a goal.
The lengthy break also adds to the uncertainty, but if Everton do not come away with a win, there will be a tinge of disappointment.
