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The basic numbers tell their own story about the impact Carlo Ancelotti has made at Everton.

Eight games, a haul of 17 points, a goal difference of plus five and a rise to seventh in the table.

Given, around two months earlier, the Blues had dropped into the bottom three after 15 games of the season – amassing only 14 points – the turnaround has been remarkable.

Everton's start to the campaign, culminating in the heavy loss at Anfield, would cost Marco Silva his job and ultimately pave the way for Ancelotti to take charge three league games later.

The Blues have won five games under the new Italian manager, who has kept the 4-4-2 formation employed by caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson, and Ancelotti has overseen improvements in the team's performance.

Everton have tried to play with greater tempo, and more “vertically” as the 60-year-old labels it, with the message to play forward more, and quicker, than they were doing.

But do the statistics, in the key areas of the team, back-up the improvements seen in results and league position?

Defence

Everton shipped 27 goals in Silva's 15 league games in charge this season, including five on that fateful night against Liverpool.

At that point in the season, the Blues were shipping almost two goals a game, on average.

Ancelotti has brought that down to just over a goal a game, with his side conceding just nine times in his opening eight matches.

Silva's Everton actually faced fewer shots, per game, than Ancelotti's side have so far yet under the Italian, less of those have been on target.

It is perhaps a sign that the Blues, more compact in a defensive system the Italian has used throughout his career, are now giving away less clear cut opportunities, than before.

Midfield

“We have been used to passing back, even where there is a possibility for a forward pass which could disrupt our opponents.”

That was Ancelotti's message ahead of last weekend's game with Crystal Palace but the numbers suggest there remains plenty of work to be done in that area.

Everton are making more passes per game and the side's accuracy is better, overall, but Silva's sides were playing forward more regularly each game.

So what has been the difference under Ancelotti?

Again, Silva's Blues played, on average, more passes in the final third too so Everton's upturn in fortunes must be down to the type of passes in those areas, where the players are now finding each other and what they do when they receive it.

It would seem that under Ancelotti, the Blues are making better decisions and are more confident when doing so.

Attack

Based on his opening spell in charge, Everton are scoring at a better rate under Ancelotti.

And in line with his previous jobs, the Italian has upped the number of shots the Blues are registering.

But how to explain, then, that Silva's Everton averaged more shots on target than under the Italian, to this point?

And how come the first 15 games of the season saw a higher number, and more accurate, crosses into the box than on Ancelotti's watch? For many it will not have felt like that.

Perhaps, again, the answer lies in more confident players, making more of the good opportunities presented to them and also in a formation that works better for them? Everton were maybe too anxious in front of goal earlier in the season. The stats would suggest that is less of a concern now.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored six times under Ancelotti (plus two for Ferguson and three under Silva) and is profiting from playing alongside Richarlison or Moise Kean.

The 22-year-old is, clearly, playing with a renewed sense of belief but, crucially, is getting into more scoring positions – and more often – now he has a strike partner and Ancelotti is telling him to be more selfish.

Conclusion

The figures from some key areas of the team do not obviously point to the marked change Evertonians have seen in results in league position.

Ancelotti, who recently joked: “I am not magician”, may have had made his impact simply by sticking with the formation employed for three league games by Ferguson (his preferred system too) and by what he has said to the players, rather than any drastic change in tactics or strategy.

It feels as though he has made only minor tweaks up to this point.

(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Too many members of the squad played with a lack of confidence in the dying embers of Silva's reign. They had not given up on their coach but it was clear that belief was a problem. Too many were in a rut they could not get out of.

After Big Dunc provoked a reaction, Ancelotti looked to maintain that spirit but has brought a clam to the whole club and the players are performing in a more relaxed, and therefore effective, manner.

The come-from-behind win over Watford, with only 10 men, was a case in point.

His messages have been simple and perhaps only by the end of the season, when the Italian has been in charge for 20 league games, will his methods and different approach to Silva be evident in more of the statistics, facts and figures covering defence, midfield and attack.

For now, many don't paint a picture that there has been a significant change in performance level even if the points won, and the ascent up the table, say otherwise.