THERE was a time when Evertonians would grab the new fixture list to excitedly scan it for clashes with Sky’s big four.

Supporters could run their fingers through the games, mentally awarding points where predicted victories would come, and there was always pause for thought over visits to those cathedrals of football in Manchester or North London.

Similarly they had to concede that points at Stamford Bridge or White Hart Lane would be a bonus – and even comfortably beating any of these sides at Goodison was a lottery with improbable odds.

But such were performances last season, a well-earned point against Chelsea, unlucky to draw at the Emirates, victories at Goodison over United and Carlo Ancelotti’s eventual champions, perceptions have shifted.

Suddenly Blues are relishing visits of the top clubs; most know that wins are far from guaranteed but there is a new optimism for enthralling games and score lines to rock the Premier League once again.

Oddly, the emerging worry is that the new places to fear are in some very unlikely quarters. For unlikely, read Stoke’s Britannia Stadium, Ewood Park, The Reebok Stadium and Molyneux.

Sides which usually make up the stodgy middle tier of the top flight are in danger of becoming Everton’s Achille’s Heel.

On the surface, the fixture computer seemed to have handed Everton a charitable opening run of games with Blackburn and Wolves but David Moyes knew the opposite.

Look at Everton’s form against such sides last season. Scrappy draws home and away with Wolves and Stoke, defeat in Bolton and a last-gasp and hard-earned victory at Ewood Park.

Nobody needs reminding of the underwhelming nature of the Toffees recent struggles with Mick McCarthy and Sam Allardyce’s sides.