Everton manager David Moyes would have liked nothing more for his side to be in FA Cup action before they eventually resume their Premier League programme
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Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes (C) looks on before the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on March 21, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes (C) looks on before the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on March 21, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
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David Moyes speaks to Billy McKinlay and Leighton Baines ahead of Everton's fantastic 3-0 home win over Chelsea on Saturday(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
David Moyes is frustrated Everton face another major break in the fixture schedule. But he also knows some of the blame lies on the Blues.
It will be the middle of April when his team resumes its charge for Europe in a battle at Brentford that is set to hold huge significance not just for the top seven. but on whether a club can emerge from the chasing pack to hunt down Chelsea and Liverpool and throw themselves into the race for the top six.
Everton gave themselves a major boost on that front with that emphatic win over Chelsea on Saturday and that is one of the reasons for Moyes’ disappointment that it will be three weeks before the trip to the GTech.
After three wins in four - the only defeat being that cruel loss to Premier League pace setters Arsenal at the Emirates - the Blues are the ones carrying the momentum into the last seven matches.
When I asked him for his thoughts on the lengthy interruption after the 3-0 victory over Chelsea, he said: “I’m actually a bit disappointed that there is a break now because I think we’ve got a bit of confidence and I think we’re playing with a bit more self-belief and you can see it.”
Moyes is trying to take some positives - he believes James Garner will benefit from being around the senior England camp and the break will help the likes of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite as they get over the issues that kept them out against Arsenal, though both were involved on Saturday - a positive sign. Carlos Alcaraz will also benefit as he approaches a return from a muscle injury.
Players on the periphery of Moyes’ squad in recent weeks will also get useful minutes. Neither Nathan Patterson nor Adam Aznou have been in action since January despite being fit. That has not stopped them from being called up for Scotland and Morocco Under-21s, respectively.
Tyler Dibling, Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong are also due minutes in the England youth setup.
But Moyes conceded in the media theatre at Hill Dickinson Stadium: “I would have probably liked to have games, the way we’re playing at the moment. I’d just like to keep it going.”
Twenty fours earlier I had raised the subject with him at Finch Farm, after the cameras had stopped rolling on the broadcast section of the pre-Chelsea press conference.
This three-week break follows the fortnight halt in games before Arsenal in a season pockmarked with international breaks.
Moyes did accept Everton’s early exits from the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup exacerbated the situation.
He told me: “I’ve got to say it’s really difficult as the manager because we’re just off a break and then we’re onto another one again. We all quite look forward to the international breaks because it gives you a breather and it’s the way it is now.
“But then to have a week added on to that as well - this is our third big-ish break, probably the last one before the end of the season now. It’s made it difficult.
“But I blame ourselves because we got knocked out of the cups, so there is nobody else we can blame - but we’ve had a lot of games moved to midweek as well.”
Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas