Everton return to the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend to face Tottenham Hotspur and James Tarkowski has admitted he’s already made a U-turn on the new ground.
Moving away from Goodison Park was always going to be a shock to the senses on Merseyside for the Blues.
However, The Friedkin Group have landed and are turning Everton into a much more sustainable football club through their work at the new stadium.
Everton have secured a huge stadium naming rights deal, which has dramatically improved the club’s PSR stance.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium has now seen four Premier League games played on home soil and no away team has taken maximum points yet.
A turbulent Spurs will be the next team to try on Sunday, but Tarkowski has now shared his early thoughts on the move into the club’s new home.
James Tarkowski makes Everton U-turn on Hill Dickinson Stadium
Former manager Sean Dyche was concerned for Everton leaving Goodison Park for the state-of-the-art new home on the docks.
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So far, the Blues have made a seamless transition into the new ground, with no away team able to win against Everton.
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast, Tarkowski has admitted he was a bit sceptical about leaving Goodison as well.
“And we’re probably a bit like yourself, probably a bit sceptical, like losing that edge of Goodison that we had, it was always a tough place to go,” he said.
“I didn’t like going there as an opposition player. We had some massive results there in the recent years.
“But so far, so good. And to say the atmosphere that I’ve been a part of so far has been amazing.”
Tarkowski was not alone as Danny Murphy also shared his Everton concerns ahead of the stadium move as the Blues left behind a big part of their history.
Amid the financial struggles of recent years, moving ground was huge for Everton and certainly played a role in the Blues being able to spend during the summer transfer window.
Everton’s record at the Hill Dickinson Stadium
The Toffees will be looking to keep their fine run at home going this weekend when Tottenham make the trip to Merseyside.
Tottenham look set to be without Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie as the pair miss their Champions League game following their absence at the weekend.
Having beaten a struggling Spurs last season, beating Thomas Frank’s outfit would mark a real statement on Everton’s record at the new ground.
Taking three points from the Lilywhites would arguably be Everton’s biggest result at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to date.
Having lost in the last outing against Manchester City, three points this Sunday would take Everton level on points with Spurs.