Newcastle breathed a sigh of relief on the final day of the season, narrowly clinching a Champions League spot despite missing the chance to secure it themselves with a win over Everton. Instead, they had to rely on slip-ups from Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest to hold onto the final qualification place.
Credit must go to David Moyes and his Everton side, who came to St James’ Park and played with determination and pride. Their 1-0 victory was well-earned and could have been even more emphatic had they taken more of their chances, through Dominic Calvert-Lewin and another Carlos Alcaraz header.
The Argentine was undoubtedly the star man and fully merited his place in the starting lineup. David Moyes' decision to give him a run from the outset was a strong signal that he remains firmly in the club’s transfer plans heading into next season. His energy, movement, and intelligence on the ball stood out throughout the match.
He had the best opportunity of the first half when he met a well-placed cross from Vitalii Mykolenko with a powerful header. It seemed destined for the top corner, but Nick Pope produced a stunning reflex save to tip it over the bar and keep the game goalless. That growing connection between the two players would bear fruit in the second half.
Once again, Mykolenko delivered a perfectly floated cross into the box, and Alcaraz peeled back to superbly rise above the defenders. This time, he made no mistake, steering a precise header into the corner to give Everton a deserved lead. It was a goal that capped a composed and confident performance, one that may well shape Moyes’ thinking ahead of the summer window.
His replacement, Abdoulaye Doucouré, has already confirmed his departure from the club, and his absence from the starting lineup further suggests that manager David Moyes is looking ahead and beginning to shape a team for the future. That future may well include Idrissa Gana Gueye, whose continued presence in the midfield appears increasingly likely.
The Ghanaian veteran delivered a typically assured performance, disciplined, composed, and full of energy. His tireless running and sharp anticipation gave the midfield a solid foundation and served as a reminder of his enduring value to the side, preventing the main threat, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno G from dominating the game.
Unlike Michael Keane, whose inclusion seemed more a result of limited options in central defence, Gana Gueye’s selection felt deliberate and meaningful. It hinted at Moyes’ intention to keep hold of the experienced midfielder for at least another season, valuing not just his reliability, but also his influence on and off the pitch.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in need of valuable minutes to regain form and sharpness, was handed less than five minutes of game time, hardly enough to make a meaningful impact. To compound matters, he squandered a golden opportunity late on to put the result beyond doubt, a miss that may have symbolically underlined a fading chapter in his Everton career. With speculation surrounding his future and diminishing influence on the pitch, his time in Royal Blue may well be drawing to a quiet close.
Whatever the future holds for these players, their contribution to Everton has been invaluable in a season that saw the club steer clear of relegation fears and deliver some truly impressive performances at Goodison Park.