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Everton 2026/2027 Premier League Season Preview: Can David Moyes's side go again?

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Everton start their second season at Hill Dickinson and will hope to put last season’s collapse behind them.

David Moyes’ side has strengthened over the summer with smart signings of Christian Norgaard and Brennan Johnson.

With the Scotsman's contract expiring at the end of the season, there will be questions surrounding his future, and whether he’s man to gear Everton out of mid-table security.

Another question is: can the Toffees go again and mount a successive European charge, and can they improve on their home form at Hill Dickinson?

2025/26 season recap

It was a season that had its promise but ultimately faded away when it mattered most. When Everton defeated Chelsea in March, the Blues were in a strong position to achieve European football.

Everton’s remaining seven games perhaps shown have far they’ve come in a short amount of time, as they eventually missed out on Europe. Crushing defeats against Liverpool and West Ham, alongside dropping two points against Manchester City, showed that Everton collapsed mentally.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Everton fans display a giant tifo ahead of the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

It was the first season at Hill Dickinson, and at first it seemed that Everton adjusted to change seamlessly as they won their opening game at their new home with a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, that home comfort quickly faded as at one stage Everton went seven games without a win at home. Everton’s away record was a standout as they picked up victories at Old Trafford, Villa Park and St James’ Park.

Despite a disappointing collapse, Everton certainly made progress, and midfielder James Garner was a key pillar in David Moyes’ side as his form earned him a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England.

The past three seasons have seen Everton pick up 49, 48 and 40 (48 without point deduction), which has seen them comfortably finishing midtable. The task for David Moyes is: can he take his Everton one step forward and kick on as they look to continue their steady progression?

Transfer activity

Written by Theo Tarling

Things have not been too busy this summer for Everton, but they have managed to bolster in some key areas of their squad.

The midfield is the area in particular which has seen an increase in quality and leadership this summer.

Hayden Hackney was the first player through the door, as he signed from the Championship play-off final losers Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £16.5 million up front.

David Moyes also brought in a recent Premier League winner, signing Christian Nørgaard from Arsenal for £7 million to bring some leadership to an Everton midfield with some young players in.

There were signings in attack too, as Tyrique George joined permanently from Chelsea in a deal worth £24 million, while Brennan Johnson joined in a rare swap deal with Dwight McNeil going the other way to Crystal Palace.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Brennan Johnson of Everton looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and OSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Regarding outgoings, Seamus Coleman bringing his long, yet incredible stint at the club to an end was the biggest news. Another long serving member in Idrissa Gueye also brought his long association across two spells on Merseyside to an end.

One to Watch- Hayden Hackney

Written by Matthew Shotter

Everton signing a midfielder from the Championship would not normally be considered a coup, but when the Toffees confirmed their acquisition of Middlesbrough academy graduate Hayden Hackney earlier this summer, it was just that.

Hackney, 23, has been the subject of much interest for a long while now, and seemingly had his pick of Premier League suitors, so the England under-21 international choosing the Merseyside outfit is a glowing endorsement of David Moyes’ ambition.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Hayden Hackney of Everton during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and OSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Hackney is the kind of midfielder who operates in deeper areas of the pitch, usually dropping back just in front of his defence to collect the ball and advance it forward to the more creative players in his side; he ranked highly for progressive passes in the second tier, which is even more impressive when you factor in his two months on the sideline.

Not only that, but his ability to play through the opposition’s press, thanks to being comfortable in tight spaces and composure, is something very few players possess. It will without doubt be a huge asset in Everton’s build-up, and may well take it to the next level.

The Redcar native is not too shabby off the ball either, with his intensity and impressive work rate. While the out-of-possession discipline and intelligence may be somewhat lacking, it’s nothing that won't improve after a season working with Moyes.

Hackney is set for a huge season; it could be one that sees him enter the conversation for a potential England call-up if he can deliver on his potential.

Strongest XI

Pickford; Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Hackney, Dewsbury-Hall; Dibling, Barry, Ndiaye

There hasn’t been that much change for Everton, but the questions still remain: will the Blues sign a right-back?

Jordan Pickford will enter his tenth season as an Everton player as their number one and is coming off the back of reaching the semi-final in the World Cup.

Merlin Rohl has featured heavily at right-back during pre-season and has shown promise and has looked more natural out there than Jake O’Brien.

O’Brien has featured at right-back, but he will hope that experiment is over so the 6ft 6 defender can show his talent in his natural position.

James Tarkowski will be expected to start alongside Jarrad Branthwaite, who has had a strong pre-season and will hope to put his injury-hit season behind him.

Vitalii Mykolenko will finish off Everton’s back-four and start at left-back. In midfield, this is where David Moyes will have a selection headache.

Youngster Harrison Armstrong has featured heavily during the summer and will hope to claim his position in the side. Summer signing Christian Norgaard is seen as the Idrissa Gueye replacement and will provide protection for Everton’s backline.

Another summer signing, Hayden Hackney, could start from the off and does have the ability to pick the ball up from deep. James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were key players last season.

Thierno Barry has stated that he wants to show everyone the real him and has kicked off this pre-season as he’s scored on three occasions and has looked strong physically.

Iliman Ndiaye is Everton’s dangerman and has looked more dangerous in his more natural position on the left. Tyrigue George and Brennan Johnson are two strong options off the bench. Tyler Dibling has looked more settled this summer and has looked bright and could start the opening game against Crystal Palace.

Tactics

David Moyes tends to set his Everton side in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall playing in behind the striker.

Under Moyes, his sides are defensively robust and are tough to break down. Last season, only four sides conceded fewer than the Blues.

The return of Branthwaite enables Everton to build out from the back, and with Tarkowski's long-ball abilities this gives the Blues two different styles of getting the ball toward Everton’s frontline.

For the majority of last season, Everton predominantly attacked down their left-hand side, with Jack Grealish being a dangerous outlet. On the opposite flank, this often left Ndiaye isolated due to Jake O’Brien being unable to provide the width.

This pre-season has seen Everton play a 4-1-4-1 formation with a midfield trio often containing players who are comfortable controlling the game.

On the wing, there is a big onus on the wingers to create chances and to look dangerous. Last season, Ndiaye and Grealish provided that. This season, with George and Dibling, this gives Moyes a new dimension, but do the youngsters have the manager's faith in the defensive side of the game?

Expectations

Following a disappointing end to the last campaign where Everton’s form collapsed in the last seven games, the expectation is once again to be in the mix for European football.

Last season, Everton showed a lot of promise and did make solid progression in what has been a turbulent few years for the club. With their strongest XI, they’ve shown they aren’t a million miles away and can look forward instead of backwards.

The first ten games of the season will show a good reading for David Moyes' side as they host Manchester United, Chelsea and Bournemouth, sides who will be in the mix for Europe. They also face all three promotion teams.

However, for Everton to kick on, the fullback positions finally need addressing. Crystal Palace’s Daniel Muñoz and Fulham’s Timothy Castagne have been linked, but Nathan Patterson is Everton’s only right-back.

Everton’s forward line has the ability of scoring goal, with Beto and Barry scoring 17 goals between them last season. Out on the wings, with Ndiaye’s creativity and the pace of Johnson and George, Everton now have the pace to hurt teams.

Despite the improved firepower, Everton must improve defensively, as towards the end of the season Everton conceded two goals or more in six out of their last seven games.

The return of Branthwaite will certainly help, as his pace will allow Everton to play higher up the pitch and will accommodate Tarkowski, and both formed a solid partnership throughout the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons.

It’s now been 31 years since Everton last lifted a major trophy, and could this season be the season that the Toffees finally end their drought?

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(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Dwight McNeil celebrates scoring during Everton versus Ipswich Town at Goodison Park (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

Nørgaard leaves Arsenal having lifted the Premier League title (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

Hayden Hackney celebrates after scoring the opener during Middlesbrough vs Norwich City (Photo by Trevor Wilkinson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

(Photo by Maynard Manyowa/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Everton's best result of the season came at home against Chelsea, thumping the Blues 3-0. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: David Moyes, Manager of Everton, gives instructions to James Tarkowski during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Everton Manager, David Moyes, reacts after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park in London on May 10, 2026. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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