From European hopes to relegation form - will Moyes reignite Everton?

What the report says

Everton’s season began with renewed optimism after a strong run put them in the mix for European qualification, but BBC Sport says the club’s form collapsed in the closing months of the campaign. A win over Chelsea in March left David Moyes’s side eighth in the Premier League and only a few points from the Champions League places, yet Everton then went on to finish without another victory, with their late-season slump among the poorest in the division.

The BBC’s analysis says the contrast with Moyes’s first months back at the club has been stark. Everton were near the relegation zone when he returned for a second spell in January 2025, but they pulled clear and ended up 13th. They repeated that finish last season after a summer of heavy spending and a move to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, although their home record was notably weak compared with their away form.

The article also points to squad issues and ongoing uncertainty around recruitment. Jack Grealish was a major early influence before injury, while other signings have had mixed results and younger players have yet to establish themselves consistently. BBC Sport notes that Moyes is in the final year of his contract, and that the coming season will test whether he can turn investment, new surroundings and a relatively small squad into stronger results.

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman told BBC Sport that the club’s stability matters after recent upheaval, while also suggesting the squad needs more reliable depth if it is to progress further.