Stability or ambition? That's the question being asked of the Friedkin Group, Everton's owners, after a once-promising season ended in a second consecutive 13th-placed finish.
David Moyes can ensure that recent relegation battles remain a thing of the past. The jury is out, however, on whether he's able to turn back the clock and make the Toffees European regulars again.
Everton were just three points off a Champions League spot after they hammered Chelsea 3-0 on March 21. They then conspired to pick up three points from their last seven fixtures, as injury-time goals cost them in three straight games.
Is this the season that Everton will, finally, become a competitive club once more? Everton 2026-27 season preview
The capitulation raised questions over Moyes' future at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Success-starved fans are desperate for European fixtures befitting of their new £750 million home, after years of looking down rather than up.
Some 17 English clubs have qualified for Europe more recently than Everton, with Burnley, Wolves, Sunderland and Leicester among them. Yet, after inheriting a mess from Farhad Moshiri, the Friedkins seem content to be “happily dissatisfied” – as club CEO Angus Kinnear wrote in his end-of-season programme notes – for a bit longer, as they try to put Everton on a stable footing off the pitch.
So, it's Moyes who is charged with returning the Toffees to continental competition. He will need at least a Conference League spot to keep fans onside.
The Coach
The criticisms of David Moyes are valid – using players out of position, dithering over subs, not trusting youth nor even his own signings – but a tad harsh, given where Everton were. He will want to prove his doubters wrong, but must buy better, starting with two top full-backs.
Key Player
Jarrad Branthwaite managed just 10 league appearances in 2025-26 and his absence was sorely felt. Everton are far more solid with their talented but injury-prone defender, whose ability on the ball also makes a huge difference in build-up. Can the 24-year-old stay fit?
Last Season's Results
PREMIER LEAGUE: 13th
FA CUP: Third Round
LEAGUE CUP: Third Round
Top Scorer
Beto bagged 10 goals in all competitions for the Toffees last season, and can be a considerable threat on his day.
The Everton bagsman also struck against Liverpool, albeit in a 2-1 derby day loss at the Hill Dickinson.
Lessons From Last Year
Leaving Goodison was never going to be easy, despite a mediocre record there in recent years, but just six wins at the new stadium was nowhere near good enough.
While Everton's away record was one of the league's best for much of 2025-26, Moyes and his players often looked lost at home. He must develop a style that works in front of an expectant crowd.
Most Likely To...
Rage against the machine. Everton were the only club not to have a single VAR decision go their way last season: no goals given, zero opposition goals ruled out, and three sure penalties turned down.
Least Likely To...
Avoid more PSR-related problems (even while Manchester City's own 115 charges continue to go unanswered). Following two harsh Premier League points deductions in 2023-24, Everton are now fighting an order to pay Burnley a whopping £35m to compensate for the Toffees avoiding relegation at their expense in 2021-22 while breaking PSR. Whatever next?
View From The Stands
Words by: ELLIOTT BRETLAND @EllBretland
Last season was a year of relative progress until a horrendous April and May, which led many to wonder: actually, is this stagnation? CEO Angus Kinnear declaring the club could be “happily dissatisfied” with the campaign was a concern.
This season will be different because Jarrad Branthwaite will be available, I hope. He is flawless and improves everyone around him.
Our key player will be Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – a technician with drive.
Look out for 18-year-old Braiden Graham, who is exciting fans by scoring for fun in the reserves.
A social media account to follow is a celebration of Evertonian culture: @mintisculture focuses on how a world of being a Blue, from the terrace gear to matchday rituals, shapes our lives.
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's been more than 30 years since we won one. Jordan Pickford doesn't need a rest.
The active player I'd love to have back is Richarlison. He's always committed to the cause.
The fans' opinion of the gaffer is mixed. Some have yearned for the ‘stability' Moyes brings. Others appreciate his steadying of the ship but aren't convinced that he can sail us to success.
We'll finish 8th.
Fixtures
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)
Title Odds
Everton to win the Premier League title odds: 300/1
FFT Verdict
FourFourTwo verdict: Everton to finish 12th.
Fans' fears were confirmed in June by Moyes declaring, “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 mere existence?
This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.
