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Everton seem to have recovered from several seasons spent flirting with relegation, but there is still plenty to do if the Toffees are to become genuinely competitive once more.

NO BALL. Excluding the sides that went down last season, Everton recorded the lowest average possession in the league, seeing just 43.7 per cent of the ball.

Stability or ambition? That is the question being put to the Friedkin Group, Everton’s owners, after a campaign that had once looked encouraging ended with a second straight 13th-place finish.

David Moyes can make sure the club’s recent relegation scraps are left behind. What remains uncertain, though, is whether he can turn back the years and restore the Toffees as regulars in Europe.

Everton were only three points away from a Champions League place after thrashing Chelsea 3-0 on March 21. From there, they somehow managed to collect only three points from their final seven matches, with injury-time goals punishing them in three consecutive games.

The collapse prompted fresh doubts about Moyes’ future at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Supporters starved of success are desperate for European nights worthy of their new £750 million home, after too many years spent looking over their shoulders instead of aiming higher.

No fewer than 17 English clubs have reached Europe more recently than Everton, including Burnley, Wolves, Sunderland and Leicester. Even so, after taking over a club in disarray from Farhad Moshiri, the Friedkins appear willing to remain “happily dissatisfied” – as chief executive Angus Kinnear wrote in his end-of-season programme notes – a little longer while they work to put Everton on a sound footing off the pitch.

That leaves Moyes with the task of taking the Toffees back into continental competition. At the very least, he will need to secure a Conference League place to keep supporters onside.

The criticisms aimed at David Moyes are not without basis – playing footballers out of position, hesitating over substitutions, showing little faith in youth and not always trusting even his own signings – but they are perhaps slightly severe given Everton’s situation. He will want to silence the doubters, though he must recruit better, beginning with two high-class full-backs.

Jarrad Branthwaite made only 10 league appearances in 2025-26, and Everton badly missed him. The side are much stronger defensively when their gifted yet injury-prone centre-back is available, and his quality on the ball also has a major impact on the build-up. The question is whether the 24-year-old can stay fit.

PREMIER LEAGUE: 13th

FA CUP: Third Round

LEAGUE CUP: Third Round

Beto scored 10 goals in all competitions for the Toffees last season and, on his day, can be a major threat.

The Everton striker also found the net against Liverpool, although it came in a 2-1 derby defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Leaving Goodison Park was never going to be straightforward, even if Everton’s recent record there had been fairly ordinary, but just six wins at the new ground was nowhere near acceptable.

Although Everton’s away form was among the strongest in the league for much of 2025-26, Moyes and his squad often appeared unsure of themselves on home turf. He has to shape a style that functions in front of a demanding crowd.

Rage against the machine. Everton were the only club last season not to benefit from a single VAR decision: no goals awarded, no opposition goals disallowed, and three clear penalties rejected.

The club must also avoid further PSR-related trouble, even as Manchester City’s own 115 charges remain unresolved. After being hit with two severe Premier League points deductions in 2023-24, Everton are now contesting an order to pay Burnley a huge £35m in compensation for the Toffees staying up at Burnley’s expense in 2021-22 while breaching PSR. What next indeed?

Last season was one of relative progress until a dreadful April and May made many ask: is this actually stagnation? Chief executive Angus Kinnear saying the club could be “happily dissatisfied” with the season only added to the concern.

This season will be different because Jarrad Branthwaite will be available, I hope. He is flawless and makes everybody around him better.

Our key player will be Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – a technically gifted player with drive.

Look out for 18-year-old Braiden Graham, who has been exciting supporters by scoring freely in the reserves.

The best thing about matchdays at our ground is the South Stand, one of the loudest terraces in football – if the team give us something to shout about…

I won't be happy unless Everton take the cups seriously. It has been more than 30 years since we won one. Jordan Pickford does not need a rest.

The active player I'd love to have back is Richarlison. He is always committed to the cause.

The fans' opinion of the gaffer is mixed. Some have longed for the “stability” Moyes offers. Others value the way he has steadied the ship but are not persuaded he can guide Everton to success.

We'll finish 8th.

AUGUST

22 Crystal Palace (H)

29 Bournemouth (A)

SEPTEMBER

5 Man United (H)

12 Tottenham (A)

19 Ipswich (H)

OCTOBER

10 Hull City (A)

17 Chelsea (H)

24 Arsenal (A)

31 Newcastle (A)

NOVEMBER

7 Coventry (H)

21 Brentford (A)

28 Liverpool (H)

DECEMBER

2 Aston Villa (A)

5 Fulham (H)

12 Brighton (A)

19 Nott'm Forest (A)

26 Sunderland (H)

30 Man City (H)

JANUARY

2 Leeds (A)

6 Aston Villa (H)

16 Coventry (A)

23 Brentford (H)

30 Liverpool (A)

FEBRUARY

6 Newcastle (H)

10 Leeds (H)

20 Sunderland (A)

27 Nott'm Forest (H)

MARCH

3 Man City (A)

13 Man United (A)

20 Tottenham (H)

APRIL

10 Crystal Palace (A)

17 Bournemouth (H)

24 Brighton (H)

MAY

1 Fulham (A)

8 Hull City (H)

15 Chelsea (A)

23 Arsenal (H)

30 Ipswich (A)

Everton to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1

FourFourTwo verdict: Everton to finish 12th.

Supporters’ fears were reinforced in June when Moyes said, “I don't know if a club like Everton now can make big strides.” Is this Nil satis nisi optimum – ‘nothing but the best is good enough’ – or simply existing?

This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue.