​The scene has been set for Everton to make a fresh start this season. David Moyes will have his first full campaign in charge since 2012/13, while the new stadium is complete and open for business.

On top of this, long-serving members of the squad, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate, have been moved on, after a gradual decrease in their minutes on the pitch.

​Few Everton supporters will have complaints about the way their side has started this season. A defeat to Leeds United on the opening weekend of the Premier League was disappointing, although the decision to award the penalty that won Leeds the game was certainly questionable.

​However, the Toffees have triumphed in three consecutive matches since and currently sit fifth in the Premier League table. There is still a long way left to go, but here are four things we have learned so far about Everton.

​The Hill Dickinson Stadium is a roaring success

Moving to a new home is always a strange feeling, particularly after spending 133 years at the previous one. Goodison Park is one of English football’s classic grounds. It may not offer the best views in certain sections, but there is a certain charm about the stadium. Most importantly, it feels like home.

​The media and rival supporters were determined to tarnish the Hill Dickinson Stadium before it had even hosted a senior match. Many taunted Everton by saying it would be the best stadium in the Championship, whilst simultaneously comparing it with a generic Bundesliga ground with no soul or character. Commenting on its resemblance to a Tesco Superstore was another popular jibe.  

​However, Everton’s new home is an impressive state-of-the-art arena. The views are superb, and the potential is there to make it a cauldron of noise. Club legend Colin Harvey even described it as ‘very, very special’ and a ‘big, big step up’ from Goodison Park.

​Everton have won their two competitive matches so far at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, against Brighton and Mansfield Town. Moyes and his men will aim to make it a hat-trick of home wins on Saturday, as they host an Aston Villa side down in 19th, having picked up a single point from three matches.

​Pre-season is largely irrelevant

It was a rough pre-season for Everton in terms of results and performances. A draw with Accrington Stanley and a defeat to Blackburn Rovers was followed by a really poor 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth in the United States. Everton then lost to West Ham, defeated Manchester United on penalties and failed to score in a home defeat against Roma.

​These fixtures may not have been easy to watch, but they helped prepare Everton for the new season which is the important thing. It is easy to get carried away after a few bad games, but these setbacks have done nothing to harm Everton now the season has begun.

​It is worth remembering that players such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were only added to Moyes’ squad later in the transfer window and did not partake in the majority of Everton’s pre-season. Therefore, predicting the outcome of the season based on a few non-competitive fixtures is never a good idea.

Beto is still the main man up front for Everton

Believing everything you read is a dangerous road to travel, particularly in a day and age where spreading false rumours has never been easier.

​There were reports last month that claimed Beto was on his way out of Everton because he refused to conform to the methods of David Moyes, leaving his manager unimpressed. It would be strange if this were true, considering he is the fifth-highest goalscorer in the Premier League since the Scotsman made his return to Merseyside.

​Indeed, the rumours turned out to be untrue and Beto is still an Everton player. Furthermore, he has retained his position in the first team, despite the arrival of Thierno Barry. The 22-year-old striker bagged 11 goals and four assists in La Liga last season, but has only played 90 minutes across four competitive matches since joining.

​Everton’s lack of creativity has been fixed to a large extent

Everton were quite firm in defence last season, but there were obvious problems at the other end of the pitch. The only teams to score fewer goals in the Premier League were the three that were relegated. Everton scored 42 goals in total, which was not even half the tally of league champions Liverpool.

​Despite a goalless defeat to Leeds on the opening weekend, the Toffees are beginning to look much stronger in attack, and it is largely down to one man. Jack Grealish is already top of the Premier League assists chart and looks electric as he causes havoc for defenders on the left wing and cuts inside to create chances.

​Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another player who has the vision to pick out a good pass, and he already looks effective in the middle of the pitch. However, Everton have looked heavily reliant on these players up to this point, and if they are sidelined by injuries, the difference will be notable.

​Harrison Armstrong had a good season with Derby County and put in a bright display against Mansfield in the League Cup. The decision was made to loan him to Preston North End on deadline day, a move which could come back to bite David Moyes, as Armstrong looks like a useful asset where attacking moves are concerned.

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