Will Everton's formidable away form throw open title race?

David Moyes has managed 745 games and returned to Merseyside for a second spell 14 months ago.

“As a man with 745 games managed, David Moyes knows his way better than most around the Premier League block, particularly when it comes to winning away games”

BBC

Since then Everton have won the most matches on the road of any Premier League side other than Arsenal.

BBC

The Toffees are unbeaten away from home since mid-December and travel to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with a record of four wins in their past five away matches.

When Everton walk out at the Emirates it will be 428 days since Moyes returned as manager with the club one point above the relegation zone.

They begin the weekend sitting eighth in the Premier League and just five points off fifth, a position which could result in Champions League football.

Everton's 1-0 triumph at Arsenal in 2021 remains their only Premier League victory in 29 attempts in this away fixture, but their improvements on the road this season have included wins at some of the toughest grounds.

When Everton faced Manchester United in November they won 1-0 for Moyes' first victory away from home against his former employers despite Idrissa Gueye's dismissal.

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When Everton travelled to Villa Park in January they beat Unai Emery's side which had won their past 11 home matches, and in their most recent away match they won at Newcastle United.

Everton are unbeaten in nine of their past 10 away games and have lost once on the road since October.

Their style suits away matches: they average the lowest possession in away games of any Premier League team (39.3%), only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals and kept more clean sheets, and they are adept at defending from set-plays.

Twenty one of Arsenal's 59 Premier League goals this season have been scored via a corner or free-kick, but Everton are the only Premier League side yet to concede from a set-piece away from home in the current campaign.

Everton's away resilience has also relied on individual form from Jordan Pickford, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye, but former Everton midfielder Leon Osman singles out James Garner for particular praise.

“As a man with 745 games managed, David Moyes knows his way better than most around the Premier League block, particularly when it comes to winning away games”

BBC

The 24-year-old has played at right-back and left-back this season but has shone in his preferred central midfield role and tops Everton's metrics for touches, tackles, chances created and expected assists.

Osman described Garner as "a throwback, and a very pleasant one, to an all-round midfielder," saying he wants to defend, be competitive, get from box to box and create goals, and that Garner "sets the tone for Everton in and out of possession" and is "one of the first names, if not the first name on David Moyes' team sheet."

Osman added he would be amazed if Garner is not in the next England squad, argued Garner's form has been better than that of any other midfielder in the role, compared him against Declan Rice, and said he would be surprised if Thomas Tuchel did not take a look at him.