Former Premier League star Paul Merson is not convinced that Everton have improved under Marco Silva.
The Portuguese tactician landed at Goodison Park in the summer and his work at the club has won plaudits, with Everton recently pushing Liverpool hard in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Silva's Everton sit in seventh in the Premier League standings, but have won just one of their last five league games and travel to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Saturday, a game Merson expects the Toffees to lose.
And the former Premier League star sees no evidence that Silva has made Everton a better team.
He wrote in his Sky Sports Premier League predictions column: "A lot of people are saying Everton have improved, but I'm not sure.
"The first half against Liverpool they did look a different team, yes, and they were unlucky not to be ahead.
"Then they play Newcastle and Watford at home and fail to win either.
"That's the same old Everton we know. When they're expected to win, I'm not sure about them.
"I think they're an underdog team, but City will win this."
Despite not having pre-season and the summer transfer window, Sam Allardyce led Everton to a finish of eighth last term, with an average of 1.28 points per game, after the Toffees had a disastrous start under Ronald Koeman.
So far Silva's side have collected 1.5 points per game.
