2025/26 Everton Preview

David Moyes helped Everton avoid relegation, but with the club finally out of financial turmoil, the manager spent a good portion of this summer revamping the team and bringing in some talent that should lead to better results. Still not quite where both the club and supporters would like to be, but both recognize that Moyes is steering the team in the right direction and soon could be a club threatening for a place in European competition and possibly even the Premier League title. Winning the title should always be the standard, but now ownership can look to do what it can before getting to that point. Everton will also be entering a new era as they open up their brand-new stadium, Hill Dickinson Stadium, it will be interesting to see how the boys in blue play after being at Goodison Park for 132 seasons. Things are really looking up for the Toffees and their faithful fans.

2025/26 Premier League Fixtures

Match 1: at Leeds United

Match 2: vs Brighton and Hove

Match 3: at Wolves

Match 4: vs Aston Villa

Match 5: at Liverpool

Match 6: vs West Ham

Match 7: vs Crystal Palace

Match 8: at Manchester City

Match 9: vs Tottenham

Match 10: at Sunderland

Match 11: vs Fulham

Match 12: at Manchester United

Match 13: vs Newcastle United

Match 14: at Bournemouth

Match 15: vs Nottingham Forest

Match 16: at Chelsea

Match 17: vs Arsenal

Match 18: at Burnley

Match 19: at Nottingham Forest

Match 20: vs Brentford

Match 21: vs Wolves

Match 22: at Aston Villa

Match 23: vs Leeds United

Match 24: at Brighton and Hove

Match 25: at Fulham

Match 26: vs Bournemouth

Match 27: vs Manchester United

Match 28: at Newcastle United

Match 29: vs Burnley

Match 30: at Arsenal

Match 31: vs Chelsea

Match 32: at Brentford

Match 33: vs Liverpool

Match 34: at West Ham

Match 35: vs Manchester City

Match 36: at Crystal Palace

Match 37: vs Sunderland

Match 38: at Tottenham

The easiest stretch for Everton here will be Match 20-25 as Brentford, Wolves, Fulham, and Leeds United are either relegation contenders or a mid table side. The toughest part of the fixtures will be Match 12-19 as playing sides such as Manchester United, Newcastle United, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest (twice), Chelsea, and Arsenal is a rough part of the season.

Additions: GK Mark Travers, F Thierno Barry, MF Jack Grealish, MF Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, MF Carlos Alcaraz, D Adam Aznou, GK Tom King, D Reuben Gokah

Departures: F Neal Maupay, D Mason Holgate, D Ashley Young, GK Joao Virginia, GK Asmir Begovich, MF Abdoulaye Doucoure, F Dominic Calvert-Lewin, MF Jack Harrison, MF Jesper Lindstrom, F Armando Broja

The additions that were made are going to make Everton very interesting to watch. Grealish is trying to revive his career and this move should benefit him and the club. He is a creative player and should add more of that in the attack as his role was limited at Manchester City. Grealish was seen as one of the best English players in the world for a while. So even if Grealish is not quite as good as he was when Manchester City recruited him, he is still a great player that will make the Everton attack so much better. Barry should be fun to watch as he brings another quality attacking option to Moyes' tactics, but he might have to split time at striker with Beto. Dewsbury-Hull should fit in nicely as well as he is another solid attacking option and gives some versatility that could also help benefit Grealish as they can move a lot around the pitch. Aznou provides as coverage and competition for Vitaliy Mykolenko, but is more looked at as the future at fullback. Alcaraz isn't technically new, but acquiring him permanently shows how much he will be valuable in the attack and off the bench. Travers provides as a solid backup option to Jordan Pickford in case of emergency and will likely get reps in cup matches.

Overall, this is a very exciting squad. Obviously Pickford is best player out there for the Blues as he is the best in the league and is England's number one choice at goalkeeper for a reason. Pickford has saved Everton a multitude of times in their chances of being relegated, but he is an outstanding goalkeeper. The backline of Mykolenko, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, and Jake O'Brien is pretty solid especially with how Branthwaite, Tarkowski, and O'Brien are 6'4" or taller which should help win balls aerially. Nathan Patterson also is a talented back that when healthy adds more depth and Seamus Coleman will likely be depth, but also act like a coach. Michael Keane is realistically on this squad just to be another "striker". Those are the type of bodies you want in your backs. James Garner and Idrissa Gana Gueye should be solid options in the midfield as Garner is versatile, especially with his defensive value, and Gueye with how he tackles the ball, something he lead the league in last season. Iroegbunam is a talented player who gives Moyes another option in the attack whether it's in rotation or off the bench. Harrison Armstrong is a young, but talented midfielder that should get more significant minutes this season. The forwards are stacked though as Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil on the wings are great, especially Ndiaye as he is an underrated player. Beto is going to challenge Barry for starting minutes, but could be used in an interesting way off the bench if need be. Youssef Chermiti is another talented player who provides as coverage and another attacking option off the bench.

Realistically, the Toffees are a mid table side, but there is a lot to like here. There is still more work to be done to make this club better before the transfer deadline ends as another winger would be great, but depth is sorely needed despite the talent here. Another article will be written later about tactics and why this team is significantly better.

Best case scenario finish: 7th

Worst case scenario finish: 14th

Realistic case scenario finish: 10th

There's a lot to like here, but more needs to be done before they'll be a serious challenger. Outside of this deadline, there is two more transfers windows that Moyes can work with to make the Blues a serious contender. That being said, Everton should be a fun side to watch this campaign and be competitive.