Moyes after Everton's win at Nottingham Forest (Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Moyes after Everton's win at Nottingham Forest (Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The dust has settled on Everton's Premier League season. But in European football, there is still one significant fixture to come.
After Chelsea beat Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday night, the only major title to be decided is the UEFA Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale will do battle for that on Saturday.
The rest of Europe will no doubt be watching on at this showpiece occasion. But there are plenty associated with various Premier League teams who will be tuning in thinking 'that could be us next season in a European final.'
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Well, nine teams actually.
Remarkably, the Premier League will have nine representatives in European competition next season.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will play Champions League football. Aston Villa and Crystal Palace will play in the Europa League. Nottingham Forest will the Premier League's representative in the Conference League.
Evertonians will no doubt be looking on enviously. After all, Newcastle, Tottenham and Crystal Palace all ended their respective trophy droughts to guarantee European football for next season, while Forest came from nowhere last term to tussle near the top.
For Palace and Forest in particular, European football will be cherished after so long away. Additionally, for all of the clubs mentioned, playing in UEFA competitions means extra income which can be used to improve the squad.
Naturally, European football can also be decisive in determining the destination of a player. Liam Delap is reportedly favouring a move to Chelsea over Everton or Manchester United with that in mind.
It will however come with challenges.
And while Everton would no doubt be desperate to get back to playing frequent continental football, for next season at least - their first in the new Hill Dickinson Stadium - perhaps this surfeit of English representation in Europe can be helpful.
The Blues will of course have issues of their own to contend with. Historically, moving grounds has never been a straighforward proess, as spectacular as the new venue might be.
But the extra strain of European fixtures could open up opportunities for the Blues. After all, they did finish above Tottenham in the Premier League table this season; they were also just one place and five points back from Palace.
There are a number of clubs who finished above Everton who will be trying to put a similarly positive slant on this unique situation.
Fulham, Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth will be hoping clear schedules can help them bridge the gap from midtable into a European place.
After finishing 13th, it will be intriguing to see what Everton's ambitions are next season. But Moyes has definitely not been playing them down when asked.
"If we keep this form up, it will be fantastic as we can give ourselves some form coming into the new stadium," he said after the team's win over Forest in April. "We want to attract the best players to this club and I would love to have a season like Nottingham Forest are having this season, next season here."
Making that type of jump would be tough. But with so many teams preoccupied with midweek matchdays and distracted by big European nights, a window could open up for significant ground to be made.