Perhaps it was fate handing Everton a shock 2-0 defeat in the EFL Cup against Norwich on Tuesday night. The loss marked manager Ronald Koeman's first defeat in seven competitive fixtures with the club. No Everton boss has ever gone unbeaten through his first seven games.
For those with less faith in divine intervention, the loss was a disappointing reality check. Too many changes and poor performances, especially from the players called into the team, led to a tame exit from a tournament that had the potential to provide a quick and easy route to a trophy and European football for a team closing in on 22 years without silverware.