Everton have risen to 15th place in Opta's global club power rankings, a significant climb that places them among Europe's elite. The data-driven model now rates the Toffees as the ninth-best team in the Premier League, having displaced Brentford from the 15th spot worldwide.
This statistical rise reflects the team's strong start to the season, where they currently sit ninth in the actual Premier League standings with six points from four games. Their unbeaten run of five matches, with two wins and three draws, includes a 1-0 victory over Wolves last weekend. The underlying numbers are even more impressive, with Opta's model calculating the team should be in 13th place with 3.6 points based on their displays, hinting at potential for further improvement.
Everton's new position puts them above several established European clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Roma, and Porto. Notably, AC Milan are ranked 30 places below the Merseyside club. Within England, only Brighton, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal are rated higher by the Opta system.
Manager David Moyes is working with a squad he has previously described as needing work, with issues expected to be addressed in the January transfer window. Moyes has spoken about the broader ambition at Goodison Park. "It's a situation that he will need to make the most of to bring European football back to Everton," the manager said, outlining the club's goal to compete for trophies among the continent's best. The next test of this rising status comes on Saturday at home against Ipswich Town, who are 10th in the table. Christian Nørgaard remains sidelined for the clash.
This story first appeared at sports.yahoo.com
