Everton suffered their third home defeat of the season against Norwich City.

The visitors took the lead on 55 minutes through a near-post finish by Todd Cantwell after Teemu Pukki squeezed the ball through the Blues’ defence.

Matters worsened in stoppage time as substitute Dennis Srbeny’s scruffy finish sealed victory for the Canaries and placed Marco Silva under renewed pressure.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Silva on the brink

 

More than time is not on Marco Silva’s side as the clock again ticks down.

Patience is in short supply as well judging by the outpourings of frustration which manifested itself as Everton slumped to yet another home defeat.

Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ were sang at Silva initially from the visitors’ section but rapidly spread to all four sides of Goodison Park.

Numerous managers have learned the harsh reality of life in the Blues’ hot seat. Once the Grand Old Lady turn on you, redemption becomes an impossible ask.

Silva now stands where Sam Allardyce, Ronald Koeman and Roberto Martinez all did before him – there is unlikely to be a way back from this latest nadir.

Much as the Goodison hierarchy would like to persevere with the Portuguese, the upcoming festive period will only exacerbate what is currently unfolding.

If Silva is still in charge for next month’s run-in, it will be a Christmas miracle.

Keeping faith condemns the Blues

 

Everton’s under-fire manager attempted to stick with a winning formula in retaining the starting line-up that triumphed at Southampton a fortnight ago.

He may as well have raised a white flag up the pole of the Bullens Road Stand.

Cenk Tosun’s performance at St Mary’s may have been encouraging but it proved to be an exception rather than the rule as he laboured against the Canaries.

Few fared much better with Gylfi Sigurdsson similarly conspicuous his absence despite being given the responsibility of the captain’s armband for this game.

Perseverance is a trait which Silva has embraced in recent weeks, yet this was a classic example of how familiarity can breed more contempt than goodwill.

Whoever is in charge by next weekend, a change-up is desperately required.

Time for a two-pronged attack

 

Refusing to deviate from a dogmatic 4-2-3-1 approach has been a regular complaint of Silva’s current 16-month tenure in the Goodison hot seat.

But if the gods still somehow smile on him, he needs to rectify this urgently.

As Tosun’s dismal showing proved, a lone striker is counterproductive; chances arrive at a premium and are seldom grasped under heavy defensive scrutiny.

Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin, too, struggled with the burden of grabbing goals late on as the game was gradually ebbing away from the hosts.

The prospect of Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean leading the line in tandem will undoubtedly offer Everton a better success rate in front of goal.

Whether Silva is present to see it through is an entirely different matter.

What IS the solution?

 

Should this prove to be Silva’s final bow, where do Everton go from here?

A return for David Moyes appears the most likely outcome at this stage although it will be one that fails to inspire confidence in a long-suffering Goodison crowd.

The alternatives are similarly underwhelming no matter who is picked: Eddie Howe, Mark Hughes or a terrifying second bite at the cherry for Sam Allardyce.

Once again the Toffees find themselves in exactly the same position that confronted them in the wake of Ronald Koeman’s exit over two years ago.

At the height of the Dutchman’s reign, Farhad Moshiri spoke of a limited window in which the club had to close the gap on a place in the Premier League’s top six.

Three years on, Everton are further away from that promised land and facing another period of flux.