In this weekend's Royal Blue column, Christopher Beesley previews Everton's game with Chelsea after last season's encounter inspired the cover of Merlin Rohl's book
Everton produced an incredible team performance to blow Chelsea away in last season's corresponding Premier League clash between the clubs
Everton produced an incredible team performance to blow Chelsea away in last season's corresponding Premier League clash between the clubs
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The picture is black and white, so you can’t see that the smoke is blue but the cover of Merlin Rohl’s new photobook ‘Life with Everton’ is a powerful image.
Taken from inside the team bus as it made the short but visceral journey across Regent Road from the Titanic Hotel to the Western Terrace of Hill Dickinson Stadium, it shows a mass of humanity, the stones of the dock wall and barbed wire behind the folded arm of one of Rohl’s Blues colleagues, seated next to him and soaking it all in.
Explaining his choice at the launch of the publication at Trinity Cafe inside the East Stand of Everton’s 52,769-capacity home this week, the German told the audience: “It was something on the cover that I couldn’t get across in the book. It was the connection with the supporters that is so special to me and really helped me to settle in.
“This game was really special. We had a great win against Chelsea and the supporters set the tone.”
Indeed. While having been given a brief by Goodison Park top brass to best replicate the intimacy and atmosphere of ‘The Grand Old Lady’ in a sleek, modern setting with no restricted views, architect Dan Meis listened to what Evertonians wanted and helped them feel at home in their new surroundings through his stunning design.
Although geographically it was a journey of just two miles from Walton to Vauxhall, emotionally it was still a huge wrench for Blues supporters after 133 years at the first purpose-built football ground in England. Thankfully, having steered them to victory in their last game at Goodison Park (2-0 v Southampton), David Moyes was able to make it a double as Everton defeated Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline in their first competitive fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
There was the dramatic 2-1 comeback success over Crystal Palace that followed with Jack Grealish netting Hill Dickinson Stadium’s first stoppage-time winner while successes against Fulham (2-0) and Nottingham Forest (3-0) kept things ticking over. However, the inaugural winter by the waterfront then saw a run of seven straight fixtures without tasting victory.
A 2-0 triumph over relegation-bound Burnley stopped the rot earlier in March but it was Chelsea’s visit on March 21 that proved to be a watershed moment when it came to fans finding true comfort and a sense of belonging in their new surroundings. A series of factors came together to create a perfect storm.
The Stamford Bridge outfit escaping a points deduction over historical breaches of the rules with secret payments of £47million to unregistered agents and third parties; a Saturday evening kick-off after a day of sunshine in a season in which Everton were forced to play seven Monday night fixtures (Sky Sports are only supposed to allot a maximum of five to any club) and a high-tempo display from the home side against an opponent who were in disarray under Liam Rosenior.
The Blues’ emphatic 3-0 win put them within just three points of a Champions League qualification place but unfortunately, we all carry the painful scars of how a historic season petered out. A failure to win any of the subsequent seven matches saw Everton slump to finish 13th.
In contrast, Moyes’ men have somehow thrived against adversity so far this term and incredibly remain undefeated after eight games in all competitions. They sit fifth in the Premier League table but arguably should be even higher given that once Thierno Barry had put them ahead at Hull City last Sunday, a team of their stature and experience appeared well-placed to hang on for a first away win of the season.
Moyes pulled no punches in his post-match press conference in East Yorkshire and it’s to be hoped that lessons have been learned ahead of this sterner test against one of football’s most expensively assembled sides who despite two losses so far, also go into this game on 10 points. This is of course the Blues’ first home game since The Friedkin Group announced that they are planning to sell up less than 22 months after completing their takeover from Farhad Moshiri.
While the timing of that announcement was surprising, nobody at Everton from the players, manager, other staff or even chief executive Angus Kinnear woke up on the morning of Friday, October 9 knowing it was coming that day, there was nevertheless an inevitability about the Houston-based company being prepared to pull the plug.
It’s been pointed out that chairman Dan Friedkin, an avid golfer, has had more conversations with his caddies at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship since he bought the Blues than he has had with manager Moyes. The Texan tycoon was of course finishing off on the links in Scotland last October the day before the aforementioned drama of the Crystal Palace win but instead chose to fly straight on to Italy where he was photographed at Roma’s Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini training base glad handing player Stephan El Shaarawy and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini – who earlier this month implored him to take on a more hands on approach with them!
In contrast, the candid shots in Rohl’s book - which you can purchase HERE - pull back the curtain on a close-knit squad who have been focusing on their football without any direct involvement from those upstairs. As Everton first team coach Leighton Baines, himself a keen photographer, remarks in the foreword of the book, of the Potsdam-born player, he’s: “A genuinely bright, curious young man, looking a little closer at the world than most of us bother to.”
The cover of Merlin Rohl's book Life with Everton
The cover of Merlin Rohl's book Life with Everton
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Rohl, 24, who chooses to live in Liverpool itself, has embraced the culture that makes Blues tick and understands the importance of a bond with the supporters. It’s a shame that Dan Friedkin never bothered to turn up and experience that.
That’s his loss though. The fans have always been the driving force at Everton.
From the moment they were founder members of the Football League in 1888 through to now as they attract the biggest average attendances in their history at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Moyes – as he repeatedly states in his programme notes – knows just what a major impact their support can have on the outcome of matches. That continues from today with Chelsea’s return.
Everton in the Community’s life-changing work highlighted in latest Impact Report
Everton in the Community (EitC) supported more than 46,400 people through its programmes during the 2025/26 season – an increase of almost 10,000 on the previous year – according to the charity’s latest Impact Report, which also highlights its £80.1 million annual social value.
Dedicated to breaking down barriers and tackling social inequality since 1988, the charitable arm of Everton Football Club supports some of the most vulnerable and underrepresented members of its local community.
Through more than 50 evidence-based, inclusive programmes, EitC addresses health inequalities, creates pathways into education and employment, and tackles crime and anti-social behaviour. Its work continues to evolve in response to local needs.
During the 2025/26 season alone, Everton in the Community supported 46,463 people while over 156,000 individuals were reached through wider community engagement activity.
Captain James Tarkowski at an Everton in the Community event in February 2026
Captain James Tarkowski at an Everton in the Community event in February 2026
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As Everton Football Club moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium at the start of the season, EitC made a conscious decision to remain rooted in L4, protecting Goodison Park's community legacy while continuing to invest in one of England’s most deprived neighbourhoods.
The charity’s mission continued to be shaped by the Trinity Project, its five-year strategy to ‘create stronger communities and brighter futures’ for all through three key pillars designed to drive lasting change: Minds, Learns and Thrives.
Speaking about the latest Impact Report, chief executive of Everton in the Community, Sue Gregory said: “Every year, this report provides an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together, and once again, I am incredibly proud of the difference our charity has made to tens of thousands of lives across Liverpool City Region.
“At Everton in the Community, we believe football has the power to do far more than just entertain. It has the ability to inspire, connect people, tackle inequality and create lasting change.”