Mykolenko targets stronger European push with Everton

Vitalii Mykolenko wants to see Everton "fight for Europe until the end" this season after falling short in 2025-26.

The Toffees were in the hunt for the European places last term, but failed to secure a place in the Premier League's top eight after failing to win any of their last seven games (D3 L4).

In all competitions, Everton have won four of their last seven games (D1 L2), beating Newcastle United in both the EFL Cup and Premier League in their last two. The Toffees last won three games in a row in August 2025.

David Moyes' side host Coventry City in their next league match, and Mykolenko wants to once again push for European football this season.

When asked about Everton's ambitions this season, Mykolenko told evertontv: "Hopefully it's much better than last season, because we just lost games.

"We did not play very well last season, but sometimes it happens with our team. And hopefully we will fight for Europe until the end.

"But, at the moment, we play game by game and we keep going. We've got a really talented group, some young players, some players with experience.

"So, hopefully we'll win the next game, and then we'll see after the international break."

After defeating Sunderland 3-1 last time out, and winning three of their last five games (L2), Coventry have moved up to 16th in the league table.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Jack Rudoni scored against the Black Cats, along with summer signing Taiwo Awoniyi.

Coventry signed 12 players this summer, and Frank Lampard believes they are ready to get more minutes in the side.

"When we recruited, we wanted to recruit players that could come in and help us, as in start for us, I really pushed to be there because we haven't got time for development," said the Coventry boss.

"You can't get promoted and try and develop too much.

"So I think it's nice that in nine games you're seeing that now, pretty even push of the new players coming in, understanding what we do, how we train, how we behave, what's the demands of the team, and some get that quicker than others."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Everton – Thierno Barry

In all competitions, Thierno Barry has scored eight goals in 12 appearances in 2026-27, as many as he managed in 41 games in 2025-26.

He's had a near-identical number of shots in both seasons (43 in 2025-26, 42 in 2026-27), although he's averaging nearly two more shots per 90 minutes this season (3.8) compared to last season (1.9).

Coventry City – Jack Rudoni

Rudoni has scored in three of his last four Premier League games; he is the only Coventry player to score multiple league goals this season (three).

MATCH PREDICTION: EVERTON WIN

This is the first meeting between Everton and Coventry in any competition since January 2001 in the Premier League, won 3-1 by the Toffees at Highfield Road.

Everton have only lost one of their 12 late kick-off games on a Friday in the Premier League (W6 D5), remaining unbeaten in all eight at home (W5 D3).

Each of Everton's last five Premier League wins have been to nil – including all three this season – but they have won none of their last 13 games when they have conceded (D6 L7) since a 3-2 win over Newcastle in February.

Coventry only lost one of their nine away Premier League matches against Everton in their first spell between 1992-93 and 2000-01 (W2 D6). Of all teams to play more than once away to the Toffees, the Sky Blues have the lowest defeat percentage (11%).

Nevertheless, only Hull (96) and Crystal Palace (90) have had fewer shots than Coventry (97) in the league this season, with the Sky Blues accumulating the lowest xG so far (8.3) and third-lowest xG per shot (0.09), behind only Manchester United and Tottenham (both 0.08).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Everton – 56%

Draw – 22.7%

Coventry City – 21.3%