Everton boss David Moyes has done a stellar job at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this season, leading the Toffees into the top half of the Premier League table.
It’s a stark contrast from previous campaigns, where they have been in turmoil and Premier League relegation battles for the past four seasons at some point in the campaign.
Everton have strayed away from that this season, with their forward line of loanee star Jack Grealish, alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and the dazzling form of Iliman Ndiaye carrying them high up the table.
But it’s their defensive record that has largely gone unnoticed this season and David Moyes will be keen on bettering that if he can get some deals done in January.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton - Premier League
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Everton have had their best defensive record in the Premier League for 12 years
Everton’s official X (formerly Twitter) account stated that the Toffees’ Premier League defensive record this season has been their best since the 2013-14 campaign after 15 games, where they’d only conceded 14 goals at this stage.
That evidently came from a David Moyes defence. Roberto Martinez, who was the Toffees’ new boss at that time, had only brought in Antolin Alcaraz from Wigan Athletic to form part of his defensive unit, though the Paraguayan had yet to play thanks to a hamstring injury.
If you were David Moyes, which three players would you want to sign in January?
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
It was a campaign in which Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines were arguably the Premier League’s best full-back pairing, while Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka were the centre-back pairing of choice, with John Stones and Alcaraz acting as backup.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
Evidently, Everton’s defensive ranks are not that strong in the present day, but there is an argument to be had that Moyes having an upgrade in January would bring them to that level. It could leave The Friedkin Group with no choice but to spend in the winter transfer window.
Everton adding new defenders to their back line could see them fly under David Moyes
Should Everton sign a new right-back, it would push Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Keane into a centre-back cohort, and a superb one at that. O’Brien has played at right-back but he performed excellently against Bournemouth in his natural central position.
David Moyes has made no secret of his wishes to add January signings and a new, young right-back should be at the top of his priority list.
Would you take Conference League right now, or see if we can finish even higher?
David Moyes on Everton's hopes of qualifying for Europe.
Credit: Getty Images/Richard Heathcote.
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Further to that, a left-back has been touted to come in to hand Vitaliy Mykolenko some competition. Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly is one name who has been suggested for a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and he would be an astute addition.
If Everton can add two wide defenders to their ranks, that figure of 17 could plummet further into the second half of the season and it could really see Everton fly, with the hopes of qualifying for Europe slowly beginning to strengthen.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox