After stifling league leaders and joint top scorers Manchester City -- few teams are likely to leave the Etihad with something to show for their efforts this season -- a trip to goal-shy Burnley on Saturday is the next challenge for Everton.
Ronald Koeman's team should anticipate a win in this fixture if they harbour genuine European hopes. A win at Turf Moor can generate momentum and ensure the City draw does not become meaningless.
With six goals in eight matches, tied with Sunderland as the division's lowest scorers, Burnley represent a different challenge to that posed by City. A blunt opposing attack is no reason to encourage complacency within the Everton defence, though the visitors should be confident in their ability to keep Sean Dyche's team at bay.
Koeman's impact on the Everton back line is clear, with increased pressing, more tackling and a general no-nonsense approach leading to a significant drop in the number of shots on target faced this season.
Showing their defensive qualities at the Etihad, displaying excellent organisation, discipline and work rate, the responsibility switches to the attacking players for this fixture. Everton can expect to improve on the 28% possession and three attempts on goal (two on target) registered against City.
Wasteful at times and squandering several promising counter attacks, a greater care in possession is imperative against Burnley. Koeman has rightly called on more players to score goals, players around Romelu Lukaku to show more productivity and the need for the team to create more.
Those tasked with supplying Lukaku in the final third must provide regular contributions. Lukaku has six goals in his last five matches but the burden on his shoulders appears to be growing rather than diminishing.
Behind Lukaku, Gareth Barry, a player not known for his finishing, is the only player with more than one goal to their name (2). Yannick Bolasie (3) is the sole player with more than a single assist.
Frequent formation and personnel changes underline Koeman's proactive approach, a manager quickly reacting to the match unfolding in front of him, but it also highlights the lack of consistency from his attacking setup, namely those employed behind Lukaku.
Barry and Idrissa Gueye are the team's standout players from their withdrawn midfield positions -- Gueye's 43 successful tackles in eight games is the best return in Europe's top five leagues -- but those operating close to Lukaku and in front of these defensive midfielders are yet to spark.
Leighton Baines' continued absence has deprived the team of his creativity from left-back, but the attacking players are underperforming regardless and alternatives are scarce beyond those named in the matchday squad at City. Aaron Lennon is available for selection after injury but his only league involvement to date was 15 minutes against Tottenham on the opening day of the season.
The main issue for Koeman is that his creative options are not making a compelling enough case for the starting XI. Each has provided a varying mix rather than reliable performances.
Summer signing Bolasie has delighted and frustrated in equal measure but is perhaps the best of a middling bunch to this point. An unpredictable winger, he often drifts in and out of matches, though his return of three assists is already as many as he managed with Crystal Palace the whole of last season.
There are signs Bolasie is developing an understanding with Lukaku similar to the link-up that existed between Gerard Deulofeu and Lukaku in the last campaign. Each of Bolasie's assists has been a Lukaku goal, a joint league-high for one player assisting another. More of this understanding and building partnerships across the pitch are pivotal to the team improving.
Another who has enjoyed a mixed start is Kevin Mirallas, having begun the season impressively before dipping in recent matches. The Belgian started the last two matches on the bench and had to contend with late cameos in both, but the failure of his replacements may reopen the door for a recall.
Deulofeu was handed an opportunity at Mirallas' expense at the Etihad, making his first league start since the 2-1 win at West Brom in August. Minimal defensive support and a lame display on the ball did little to enhance his case for increased involvement, though, and the young winger has not made an impact under the new regime, albeit used mostly as a substitute.
Of those available for selection, Ross Barkley was the only attack-minded midfielder not to feature last time out. Barkley has faced scrutiny over his form in recent weeks but the need for more attacking threat in this match could see the midfielder return. Koeman called his absence a wake-up call and will expect a reaction this weekend.
While Koeman searches for the setup best suited to the players at his disposal, those chosen must prove their worth if Everton's attacking output is to extend beyond their dependency on Lukaku and match their defensive progress.