Our Everton jury have returned ahead of the Blues getting their 2026/27 Premier League campaign underway against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton manager David Moyes and Jack Grealish
Everton manager David Moyes and Jack Grealish(Image: Gary Oakley/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
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Everton kick-off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace at home on Saturday. The Blues have endured an indifferent pre-season in terms of results, but they did beat Newcastle United and draw with Lille in their last two games. Off the pitch, Hayden Hackney, Merlin Rohl, Brennan Johnson, Tyrique George and Christian Norgaard have all arrived. However, David Moyes believes there is still a lot more work to be done in the transfer market. And ahead of Saturday’s big kick-off, our Everton jury have returned to have their say.
Paul McParlan
Most Everton fans are still recovering from our catastrophic loss of form towards the end of the season, which cost us a European place which was there for the taking. With 135 minutes of the campaign remaining, we were in 7th place, yet somehow, we contrived to finish 13th after losing our final two games. It hurts, but it's over, and it's time to move on.
For fans expecting a series of big-name arrivals this summer, that was never going to happen. David Moyes’ recent comments that “we’re far off from where we want to be” have enabled the serial Everton doom-mongers to flood supporters with social media posts writing off our prospects before the new season has even started.
I may be in a minority here, but I am cautiously optimistic about this season. We have kept the core of our squad and have made some useful acquisitions. Christian Norgaard will bring a welcome element of experience and leadership to the team, and Hayden Hackney could prove to be an inspired signing. Tyrique George is definitely a talent and will pose problems for defenders with his pace and trickery. Brennan Johnson will bring much-needed pace to our play and has an eye for goal.
Our younger players such as Tyler Dibling, Harrison Armstrong, Merlin Rohl and Adam Aznou look ready to challenge for a regular start. David Moyes has an array of options on the bench if he chooses to use them. The days of having to rely on Jack Harrison and Neal Maupay are gone.
Merlin Rohl scores for Everton against Hamburg
Merlin Rohl scores for Everton against Hamburg
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Thierno Barry had problems adjusting to the Premier League last season, but he is still only 23 and will have learnt from that experience. He has looked the part in pre-season and this could be a breakthrough campaign for him.
Having a fully fit Jarrad Branthwaite makes such a difference to Everton. Losing him through injury for the last five games effectively derailed our push for Europe. If he can avoid any setbacks this time, then our prospects seem much brighter.
There are still some issues to be resolved. We need a right back and perhaps another striking option. The return of Jack Grealish would be a boost and some arrivals before deadline day would help.
What are our targets for this campaign? For me, qualifying for Europe is essential and having a long run in the League and FA Cups. Our home form has to improve, and we have to win a Derby match! At our old stadium, if possible!
This team looks potentially stronger than last year. Our younger players will have improved. We have strengthened in key areas, and we have the best keeper in England in our goal and one of the most experienced managers in the game.
Every new season brings renewed hope and exciting possibilities. Let’s embrace them. Last season has gone. The story of this one is yet to be written, and maybe there could be a happy ending?
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James Kellett
As the novelty of Hill Dickinson Stadium starts to wear off, eyes are cast on Everton to see if they can produce a team worthy of their world-class arena. While last season ended poorly, seeing European hopes dwindle into mid-table mediocrity, there were signs this squad can push into the higher regions of the Premier League. A talking point that continues to rage is the right-back conundrum, and the sheer fact that a new one has not been signed is nothing short of a failure. It is a position that has been a topic of conversation for successive transfer windows, and the Toffees appear no closer than they were a few years ago in securing a befitting successor to club hero Seamus Coleman.
So the Blues will likely enter their opening matches without a natural right-back again, and the longer David Moyes goes without a right-back, the longer the team will go without having the foundations to become a competitive threat. However, outside of this failure, there is reason to have some excitement ahead of the season-opener against Crystal Palace.
David Moyes during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and OSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
David Moyes during the pre-season friendly match between Everton and OSC Lille at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
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Pre-season performances from prodigies such as Tyler Dibling, Adam Aznou and Tyrique George emphasise the potential this current squad has, and many Evertonians hope their manager makes the most of the young talent at his disposal. Most importantly, Jarrad Branthwaite managed to complete a full preseason, which has offered him the perfect opportunity to become the leading man in Everton’s defence.
His injury in last season's gut-wrenching Merseyside Derby defeat sent the Toffees’ season spiralling, so their hopes this campaign rest on him returning to peak fitness. The dire results of last April and May have made it hard for some Evertonians to believe ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
But this is a club that has added quality to its ranks, and should they continue to recruit new bodies, they may just raise a few eyebrows and shrug off the ghosts of last season.
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Mark McParlan
Fortunately, some of the looming dark clouds have been calmed by how good the team has looked at the end of pre-season, delivering an extremely convincing 3-1 win against Newcastle and being much the better team against a Lille outfit who’ve just finished third in Ligue 1.
Squad depth looks quite solid. We’ve got four centre-backs. We’ve got eight central midfielders: James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christian Norgaard, Hayden Hackney, Tim Iroegbunam, Charly Alcaraz, Merling Rohl and Harrison Armstrong. We’ve four wingers at the club after Brennan Johnson and Tyrique George were added to Iliman Ndiaye and Tyler Dibling, and now Angus Kinnear has implied we are still pursuing Jack Grealish.
But full-back remains the obvious problem. Vitalii Mykolenko has had a worryingly poor pre-season and still hasn’t shown that he’s particularly better than he was in 2022. Apparently, the club disagreed, instead rewarding him with a new three-year deal in June.
The Jake O’Brien at right-back experiment must finally be laid to rest, with the whole situation descending into a farce even involving the Prime Minister. Are we just going to fall into the same trap with Rohl in that spot instead? Across the course of a demanding Premier League season, out-of-position players are usually found out and targeted.
Once again, the fortunes of our season could rest on the fitness or otherwise of Jarrad Branthwaite. He is a revelation in defence and allows the team to play on the front foot, both by playing a higher line and by striding out of defence with the ball himself.
Jarrad Branthwaite was back in the starting line-up for the 2-1 win in Hamburg as Everton manage his minutes following his return to fitness
Jarrad Branthwaite during pre-season(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC/SmartFrame)
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I think if we land a quality full-back (and Jack Grealish?), it’s then over to David Moyes to deliver as manager. The mission remains the same: at the very least improve on last season, ideally qualify for European football, or alternatively, reach a cup final.
I’m worried that uncertainty over Moyes’ future with 10 months left on his contract will make him a more cautious manager, even less likely to treat the cups seriously.
I’m going into the first match and the season with optimism, but still fearing we could be in for another nothing season. The lingering doubt in my mind is that the starting XI hasn’t actually improved at all yet, compared to last season, and that Moyes won’t properly rotate the squad to its full potential.
Either way, let’s start as we mean to go on, with three points at home against Crystal Palace and a strong performance, and get the fanbase right behind the manager and team from the off.
Richarlison and Jack Grealish are both on Everton's radar
Richarlison and Jack Grealish are both on Everton's radar(Getty Images)