Everton has a long and illustrious history in England's top division, although they have occasionally been dangerously near to being demoted.
On May 7, 1994, the final day of the Premier League season, I can still clearly recall leaving the field with Arsenal only to learn that my old team had defeated Wimbledon 3-2 after falling down 2-0 to maintain their standing in the league.
The greatest escape by Everton ever occurred last season when they overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Crystal Palace 3-2 and ensure their survival.
At the full-time whistle, the Goodison Park surface was packed with spectators who were celebrating yet another victory. Blue smoke filled the air.
However, at Goodison two weeks ago, it appeared as though the Everton supporters had given up on their team's ability to repeat.
Thousands of fans left the game early in sorrow after falling behind Newcastle 4-1 as they began to realize that this would finally be the year they slip through the Premier League trap door.
But after two games, the confidence has returned. However, the 5-1 victory against Brighton astonished the football world. Their 2-2 draw at Leicester was encouraging.
The fact that Everton scored five goals on counterattacks was a significant warning sign for Manchester City ahead of this weekend, and it seems unlikely that Pep Guardiola's club will allow themselves to be as open to breakaways tomorrow.
Brighton and City both develop plays through midfield by outnumbering their opponents in the center of the field with the help of their full backs or centers.
With their five goals scored on the break, including two from Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was making lung-busting runs from deep midfield, Everton took full advantage of that technique. Everton used a 4-5-1 system that was quite narrow with their wide players, Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi, tucking in.
Iwobi and Nathan Patterson doubled up on Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma to shield their full backs. Only when they were flying forward did McNeil and Iwobi let their full backs go undefended.
Idrissa Gueye, Doucoure, and James Garner sat deep in the middle of the field to safeguard their defense, but when Brighton sent a fourth player there, as City will, one of those three pushed out to neutralize the danger.
It was a well-executed scheme. Everton destroyed Brighton, and Guardiola, who will make a number of changes before Real Madrid's visit, will not have overlooked their skill on the break.
Guardiola tries to choose 11 players from his elite group each week to make sure City stays in every battle as they pursue a historic Treble. Last week, he made seven changes for Leeds, but City still prevailed, winning their tenth straight Premier League match.
In terms of tactics, I don't think Guardiola would leave those avenues as wide open as Brighton did.
Not now that Everton has shown what devastation they can cause if you utilize their countering advantages.
Guardiola will be optimistic that his team can come closer to a fifth Premier League title in six years if they can stop Everton from pressing forward quickly. After that, City will switch their focus back to the Champions League.
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