They preview Wednesday's derby.
The most important thing for the new manager of Everton is that he is in charge of a derby for the first time.
It will be the first manager since 1894 to take charge of both clubs in a derby, though that achievement is likely to be far from his mind as his side go into the game on a rotten run of form.
After Sunday's defeat at Brentford, the Toffees are 14th in the table and without a win in seven games.
The fans made their displeasure clear at the end of the game and the bookmaker made the new manager the favourite to lose his job.
The fans were not happy about the idea of a coach.
There were banners protesting against his appointment left outside Goodison Park and near his home before he signed his contract.
Some fans are still angry at the Spaniard for referring to the team as a small club after a goalless derby at the start of 2007, though he later insisted he was referring to the team's approach rather than the club.
The majority of the fans at the game were prepared to give him a chance, despite the reservations.
Carl Woodward said that theEverton fans weren't really happy about the idea of the Spaniard. It took a while for the appointment to be confirmed, but I think it helped the fans.
The majority of the people said that he's our manager and we have to support him.
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They need some direction and accountability.
The first three home games of a top-flight season for the first time since 1989-90 were won byEverton after their victory overNorwich in September.
Things have tailed off spectacularly since the start of the season, which was helped by a bright start in which the Toffees won three out of their opening four matches.
In the past nine games,Everton have scored just six goals, conceded 16 and lost to two newly promoted sides.
Howard Kendall and Walter Smith both earned less points from their first 13 matches in charge than the 15 points earned by Benitez.
Won.
A drawing was drawn.
It was lost.
Goal difference.
There are points.
It's called Burnley.
1
5
3
-2
8
Man Utd.
2
2
5
-9
8
The city of Newcastle.
0
5
4
-7
5
It'sEverton.
1
2
6
-10
5
Some of the anger was for the results being pinned on the manager.
Yerry Mina, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Richarlison are just a few of the players that have been injured.
The club risked falling foul of the Premier League's profit and sustainable rules due to years of wasteful transfer spending, so he only spent about $1m in the summer.
Farhad Moshiri has spent a lot of money on new players, but there has been little return.
There has been a high turnover of managers, with the fifth permanent boss in five years.
"If I was going to rank the problems from first to last, I would say that the problems of Benitez would be near the bottom of the list," said Matt Jones of The Blue Room.
They need some direction and accountability. Farhad Moshiri is the owner, Bill Kenwright is the chairman, and Rafa Benitez is the manager. Nobody knows who is responsible for what.
Peter Mcpartland from the Fan Channel TV said that the club was an "absolute mess". It's not just the director of football. It goes all the way up.
We will be the next team to be demoted from the premier league and then to League One.
I can't see how we don't finish in the bottom five or six this season.
The players came in for criticism after the game.
The fans are angry with the board. They are blaming the players for not putting the effort in.
"That is something that has been leveled at them for a few seasons now, the players just don't fight for the shirt."
'Everton need a miracle to get a win'
The longest winless run since April 2016 is the reason why they are in the derby.
It looks like things will not be easy for the Toffees as they take on a third-place side who have scored 39 goals in 13 matches, more than double their tally.
The memories of this fixture can be used to call on a good record by the current manager. He lost his first game at Goodison in December 2004, but went on to lose only one of the next 11 meetings.
There was always a lot riding on those encounters, including a pair of victories that boosted the Reds' top-four hopes. Wednesday's encounter was significant because of the potential ramifications for his own future.
Jones said thatEverton needed a miracle to get a win. If Goodison is half empty before the half-time break, and everyone has left, it's just apathy, and that might spare the anger of Benitez.
It could be difficult for him to come back from if the ground is full late on.
