9th August 2025 Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England Pre Season Football Friendly, Everton versus Roma Everton manager David Moyes follows th...
Credit: Imago
James Barker
Mon 16 February 2026 14:50, UK
Everton are well-rested and ready to meet the challenge of Manchester United on 23 February.
With Everton not in FA Cup action over the weekend, David Moyes will have no doubt taken the opportunity to get some extra training ground work into his players ahead of a big Premier League run-in.
Currently occupying eighth place, the Toffees are enjoying an improved season so far in the top flight, having finished 13th last term.
Indeed, that would be Everton’s best Premier League finish since they took eighth spot in the 2018-19 campaign under Marco Silva, and a marked improvement after four successive bottom-half efforts.
However, there is one aspect of Everton’s season that is showing why despite their strong league position, teams across the top flight aren’t really fearing them as much as they could be.
Everton home ground Hill Dickinson Stadium with stat of Premier League home wins in 2025-26 season
Credit: Breaking Media
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Everton’s Premier League defeats paint revealing picture
There are a number of elements to their 2025-26 season that, if in possession of a magic reset wand, Everton would no doubt look to change and improve upon.
One of those would be their form at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with just four wins from 13 Premier League games in their new home’s inaugural season, culminating in 16 of their 37 points.
Jarrad Branthwaite's 2025-26 Premier League stats for Everton
Credit: Breaking Media
Injuries have also played an inevitable factor, with Jack Grealish’s season now over, and key centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite only just now returning to action having missed the entire opening half of the campaign.
However, there is one other aspect of their season that is rather revealing as to why Everton aren’t being talked about as one of the truly top sides in the league this term.
Everton's 2025-26 Premier League defeats against top half teams
Credit: Breaking Media
As detailed in the above graphic, seven of Everton’s nine Premier League losses so far this season have came against teams that currently sit in the top half of the table.
Those being: Bournemouth, Brentford, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool respectively, with their only two non-top half losses coming against Tottenham and Leeds respectively.
Everton have chance to put Premier League on notice vs Man United
Therefore, this would also help explain why Everton are on the periphery of the race for European football for next season, and not right amongst it.
However, the Toffees do have the chance to put the Premier League on notice in their next game, when they welcome Man United to Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first ever time.
Everton's all-time Premier League wins vs Man United at Goodison Park stat
Credit: Breaking Media
Everton held a dismal Premier League record at their old Goodison Park home against the Red Devils, winning jus eight of their 33 top flight contests against them at Goodison.
But, a new era of this classic Premier League rivalry will begin on 23 February, and if Moyes’ men can topple United, then that would send a clear message to their top half rivals that they are still there.
For even more Everton news and opinions, head over to Football Insider.