Everton may have faltered last weekend in a bizarre, goal-filled encounter with Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side. However, there is no denying that since Ronald Koeman’s arrival in the summer, The Toffees’ form has improved drastically and they look a new team, hungry for success.

The side sit comfortable in seventh place and look to be heading for their highest Premier League finish since 2014.

Koeman’s new signings have been impressive, whilst some of the old cohort have enjoyed a renaissance in form and players like Romelu Lukaku have continued to play out of their skin.

Under former manager, Roberto Martinez, there was no desire and no flair. Now, however, the side are up for any battle and don’t go down without a scrap.

Shoot!‘s Toby Bryant looks at who are Everton’s Top 5 Players of the Season, so far… 

5. Leighton Baines

Left-back, Baines, recently made his 300th Premier League appearance against Sunderland, but is still going strong.

He has been a constant under Koeman, staying injury free and using his experience to guide the side.

His defensive play has been assertive, something that was arguably his weakness before, and his prowess going forward is still formidable.

Baines has created 25 goalscoring chances for The Toffees and picked up a couple of assists and goals in the process.

He is an Everton hero and certainly deserves a testimonial this year.

4. Gareth Barry

Barry is like marmite for the Everton fans. Some love him, some hate him. The Englishman is a Premier League war horse but, he is prone to the occasional shocker.

For example, his performance against Tottenham on Sunday caused many fans to call for his dropping from the side.

However, Barry is key to Everton’s play. His job in midfield may not be glamorous, but he does the dirty very well.

This goes unnoticed unless, as with Tottenham, he doesn’t complete it impeccably. He puts his heart, and body on the line (only three players in the league have made more blocks this season) week in, week out.

Without him, there would be a big hole in the Everton midfield.

3. Tom Davies

Davies has been a huge revelation this season. The 18-year-old had been touted as the ‘next big thing’ as he rose through the youth academy and, now, his is showcasing his talent on the biggest stage.

He made a few appearances early on in the season, but it was in Gameweek 20, against Southampton, that he was afforded his first start.

Since then, he hasn’t looked back. Davies has two assists and a goal to his name already and has provided a brilliant impetus for the side when they have needed it most.

Just how comfortable the young starlet in the Premier Legue is head-spinning and this campaign will likely be remembered for his breakthrough in the future.

2. Idrissa Gueye

A lot of Everton fans are insisting that Gueye is the Premier League signing of the season.

Fans of other clubs have responded labelling The Toffees’ fans ‘biased’. However, whilst their allegiances may be with Everton, just how good Gueye is has to be acknowledged.

No other midfielder has made more tackles than his 139, made more successfully than his 78, whilst he is in the top 10 for interceptions and recoveries too.

A big deal was made about N’Golo Kante last year, but Gueye is even more special.

He has a host of Man of the Match awards to his name and, at £7.1m, is an absolute steal.

1. Romelu Lukaku

It seems unfair that someone could pip Gueye to the top spot for Everton’s best player of the season so far. However, just how much of a difference Lukaku makes for Everton cannot be underestimated.

He has notched 18 times in the Premier League, 12 goals ahead of Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman in joint second, and been involved in 51 per cent of the side’s goals.

The Belgian recently became The Toffees’ highest ever goalscorer in the League, in just four years, with 61 goals, eclipsing Duncan Ferguson’s 60.

He also has the highest goals per game of Everton’s Top 50 goalscorers in history. There isn’t sufficient back up for Lukaku, with Enner Valencia the only real option, but the forward has not let any pressure get him down.

Reports are surfacing that the talisman is on the verge of signing a new contract to keep him at the club until 2022, which would be a huge achievement for the board.

Lukaku is, at the moment, the pinnacle of Everton Football Club.