Everton have continued their dramatic upturn in form with a 2-1 victory over Southampton.
The Toffees endured a torrid campaign last season in which they narrowly managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
After losing their opening two matches against Chelsea and Aston Villa this term, many supporters will have feared another season of struggle.
However, it seems that Frank Lampard’s side had other ideas.
It was Joe Aribo who gave Southampton to lead with an excellent effort just four minutes after the half-time break.
That lead lasted just three minutes, however, with Conor Coady leveling the match with his first goal for the Toffees.
And just two minutes after that, Lampard’s side were in the lead with Dwight McNeil slamming home from close range for his own first Everton goal to make it 2-1.
While Southampton certainly had their chances, the Merseyside outfit were able to see out the game and push themselves into a mid-table position.
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That victory ensures that the Toffees have back-to-back wins for the first time this season, while also extending their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions.
It’s the club’s best unbeaten run since August 2020 when they recorded seven consecutive wins in all competitions under Carlo Ancelotti.
But their run of six league matches without defeat is their best unbeaten run in the Premier League since August 2019 – since before the appointments of Lampard’s predecessors Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez.
It’s an achievement that is even more impressive given their recent defensive displays.
In those seven matches, Everton have kept six clean sheets and conceded just four goals.
With seven goals conceded in total in the Premier League, it means that by full-time at St Mary’s Stadium only Manchester City had conceded fewer goals in the league with six.