Everton boss Sean Dyche says the takeover of Everton by Farhad Moshiri's Friedkin Group has created a positive energy around the club.
The deal, which was completed last week, marks the start of a new chapter for the Toffees, who are unbeaten in three Premier League matches and four points clear of the bottom four.
Dyche's side have kept a clean sheet in all those matches, including a pair of goalless draws in their last two top-flight games against title contenders Arsenal and Chelsea.
It caps a positive few weeks for the club, and Dyche will be keen to capitalize on the Boxing Day match against struggling Manchester City at the Etihad.
“This has been an indifferent period for a lot of different reasons,” Dyche said. “Expectations went up, expenses went down, which is always a challenge when that happens.
“Ownership seems to have given a more balanced view of the club, a more positive view, which is of course useful, and then it is up to us to keep building on the pitch.
“There just seems to be an atmosphere of changing the mood around Everton Football Club. It seems to have improved things.”
Boxing Day in Manchester. pic.twitter.com/cz6Obarz7r
— Everton (@Everton) December 23, 2024
This weekend offers Everton's best chance of beating the Citizens, having won one of their last 22 Premier League meetings with City and losing 12 of the last 13.
The Toffees have also not lost any of their last eight away Boxing Day games (W5 D3) since a 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa in 2005.
Everton also won the last time they faced the reigning champions on this day, beating Leicester City 2-0 in 2016.
Pep Guardiola's side have lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions (W1 D2), the same number as in the previous 112.
Only in 2016/17 (10) and 2019/20 (12) has Guardiola suffered more defeats in a single season as manager, so Everton may not have a better chance of beating City.
However, the Toffees will be without Ashley Young for Thursday's early kick-off, with Dyche revealing the full-back suffered an unusual injury in their match against Chelsea.
“Youngy is suspended anyway, but he tore his neck on the far stick [against Chelsea]Dyche added.
“We had to take him off for both reasons: to make sure he was physically OK, and he got a yellow card.”
Young's absence is a huge blow for Dyche, with only Dwight McNeil (33) creating more Premier League chances for Everton this season than the 39-year-old (16).
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