Everton enter the new Premier League campaign with cautious optimism tempered by memories of a painful late-season slump that derailed what had looked like a promising first full year under David Moyes at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium home. The club finished 13th last season, matching their position from the previous campaign, though with a slightly worse goal difference despite one extra point.
According to a Guardian writers' poll, Everton are tipped to finish 10th this season, reflecting hopes that the club can build on lessons learned rather than repeat last term's disappointing finish. As recently as March 21, Everton sat just three points off the Champions League qualification places, buoyed by an impressive win over Chelsea at their new stadium. However, they failed to win another league match for the remainder of the season, a collapse that significantly altered outside perceptions of Moyes's rebuilding project.
This summer arrives with far less disruption than last year's, when Everton lost ten players, including loanees, following contract expirations while simultaneously adjusting to a new stadium. With a more settled squad and a year's added Premier League experience for younger players, there is cautious belief that European qualification could be a genuine target—provided the club addresses persistent weaknesses.
Chief among these is the need for reinforcement at centre-forward, where Beto and Thierno Barry have offered limited output, though Barry has shown encouraging signs in pre-season. The club also continues its long search for a long-term successor to the departed Séamus Coleman at right-back, while central defence remains another area requiring strengthening. How Moyes addresses these gaps before the transfer window closes will likely determine whether genuine progress materializes.
Off the pitch, Everton continue to deal with fallout from the ownership era of Farhad Moshiri, including a Premier League disciplinary commission ruling ordering the club to pay close to £40m in compensation to Burnley over their 2021-22 relegation—a decision Everton are appealing alongside the largest financial penalty ever handed to a Premier League club. The club insists this sanction has not impacted this summer's recruitment plans, even as many supporters face steep season ticket price rises of up to nearly 10%, and the club has renewed its sponsorship arrangement with betting firm Stake.
The Friedkin Group's ownership has brought welcome financial stability, though supporters have yet to build a strong rapport with the low-profile group. Chief executive Angus Kinnear drew criticism from fans after describing the club's leadership as