Everton

The Athletic FC's Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland grades the Blues' season after they finished 13th and missed out on European football.

"I gave Everton a C-minus. Even a couple of weeks ago it probably would have been a fair amount higher but I just think this was a huge opportunity missed for Everton this season," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"The squad we all know is flawed, but they had, particularly after the Chelsea game, a real opportunity to get into Europe. To make significant strides forward.

"Ultimately, they didn't take them and I think that is mainly on them. We can point to refereeing decisions here or there but I think it is mainly on the people in the building, including in the dressing room, so really disappointing end to the campaign with no wins in the final seven [matches].

"After Chelsea, Everton were on 46 points. Had they got eight more points, in the final seven games, they would have made Europa League, so that's why [the grade] can't be any higher for me."

On the future of manager David Moyes, Boyland said: "The end of the season raised significant questions over the direction of travel.

"Questions are going to be asked, particularly if the same mistakes keep on being repeated.

"You can remove a manager but can you fix the recruitment side? Can you fix some of the mistakes that have been made on the pitch?"

Tyler Dibling signed for the club from Southampton last summer and has struggled to make an impact in his first season.

"Don't sign a £40m winger in Tyler Dibling if he is not going to develop and play," Boyland added.

"The price tag does play a role, it was also the fact that we had all seen Tyler Dibling play for Southampton last year and most of us had been so impressed by what we had seen."

Listen to the full conversation by pressing play above or on BBC Sounds here

Briony Bragg
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Season score out of 10 and overriding emotion?

4/10 - Everton are looking backwards when this club should be moving forwards. It's not really to do with the football either. It's to do with a state-of-the-art new stadium, new owners wiping significant debts and starting to behave more like a modern-day football club off the pitch, which is crucial for survival now. - something, apparently, we should all just be grateful for.

Best moment and why?

Probably that sunny opening home win against Brighton.

Player of season and why?

James Garner - it's a shame for players like him, who have put the work in so diligently, to not be rewarded with European competition.

Biggest disappointment?

Missing out on Europe when it was firmly within our grasp.

What needs to change this summer?

Our CEO lauds stability but all the fans see is stagnation. The attitude of this club needs to massively change this summer. It's not acceptable for management to use the excuse that Everton "aren't ready" for European football when Sunderland were playing in League One four years ago.

Squad management this season has been awful and the points tally has capitulated through sheer exhaustion. Eight players have played 2,500 or more minutes, the most of any side in the Premier League. Three out of four of the finishing defensive line against Tottenham played in the 2022 survival game against Crystal Palace.

Major hope for next season?

A pair of new full-backs, but regardless of who Everton purchase, if the manager stays the same, I would not be convinced they would get on the pitch. David Moyes has an aversion to playing any youth - proven by the lack of minutes for Adam Aznou, who in his only cameo in the FA Cup came on and won a penalty, then was never seen again.

A new stadium, financial stability and ambitious ownership should be the beginning of progress, not the excuse for standing still. Things will go sour very quickly next season if this is not recognised.

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Everton are targeting DR Congo full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 28, in a £10m move following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Enzo Maresca, who has been linked with replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, wants to give England midfielder Jack Grealish, 30, the chance to revive his City career after a season on loan at Everton. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Everton midfielder James Garner says the Toffees have had a "progressive season" despite a "disappointing" end to the campaign.

David Moyes' side failed to win any of their final seven Premier League games to drop from European contention to a 13th-place finish, culminating in a limp final day defeat at Spurs.

"Disappointing," Garner said post-match.

"A bit of a slow game really, they didn't create much. It felt quite comfortable in the game but at the same time we didn't really create anything either so there was just one moment in the game and it fell their way.

"Very disappointed. To finish the last seven games without a win isn't good enough.

"Overall the season has been much better, our best in the last four or five years, so there are positives to take, it's just the last seven games we need to improve going into next season.

"There's progress. We've won a lot of big games against big teams so it's definitely a progressive season from the last few."

Garner himself has played every minute for Everton this season, and is content with his performances despite missing out on England's World Cup squad.

"I'm really happy," he added.

"This has probably been my best season. I've been injury-free for every game and every minute so from a personal level I've really enjoyed it. There's more to come - I just need another season like this if not better.

"Getting a taste of it for the first time was a dream come true but a lot of top level players missed out in this team. It is what it is, just got to keep going and it's only going to motivate me."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

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Now the curtain has come down on the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, here is my end-of-season review - with a look back to what I predicted in August.

Prediction: 12th

A funny one, this. Everton were in position to reach Europe with a few weeks of the season to go, but a late collapse left supporters very frustrated with manager David Moyes and his players.

Jack Grealish played his part before a season-ending foot injury, but the workload heaped on Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall eventually took its toll.

An average season with none of the relegation worries of previous years, but home form was poor in Everton's magnificent new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The biggest mystery? The complete disappearance of 20-year-old Tyler Dibling following his £40m move from Southampton last summer.

It will be intriguing to see what approach club owner the Friedkin Group takes this summer.

What I said in August: "Manager David Moyes is hoping to build on the revival he inspired in the second half of last term."

Check out the rest of my review here

We asked for your views on Everton's defeat at Tottenham on the final day of the season.

Here are some of your comments:

Tim: A tepid display from Everton as they limp over the line for yet another defeat. Changes were effective but came much too late. Time to change the manager and clear out the dead wood.

Nigel: A really poor performance. I feel sorry for the West Ham supporters, we just didn't turn up. David Moyes, not good enough, this has to change before next season or we will be in a relegation fight.

Paul: Awful end to the season. A complete let down on where they could have finished for the fans. They need to take a good hard look at themselves if they want to improve on 13th next year. Desperate for a striker but also to start winning games they should. Lost too many games they should have won because of lacklustre play. Overall a poor season of mediocrity.

Image source, Getty Images

Ian: When any team needs a win - just give Everton a call. They'll oblige and are 100% guaranteed to tamely roll over and meekly surrender. Totally predictable outcome from the mighty Blues.

Magnus: The team never played with enough intensity or creativity to challenge a nervous Spurs side. Possession was poor, attacks lacked structure and energy, and we looked reactive rather than ambitious. There was not much riding on the game for us, but matches like this still show character, and too many players looked short of pride and hunger. While Moyes has restored stability, performances like this reinforce the feeling that he is not the manager who takes us back to European football.

Gary: A season that looked promising at the beginning of 2026, ended poorly. We need a striker urgently or we'll be in the bottom half of the table again.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from all 10 fixtures on the final day of the Premier League season.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 1-0 Everton

• West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

• Brighton 0-3 Manchester United

Everton manager David Moyes speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I didn't think it was a great performance from us, the second half was probably better, we had around 20 minutes at the end where we created opportunities.

"We were incredibly resilient not to buckle under early pressure, though. We gave away a lot of free kicks and that meant we had to defend a lot - the goal came from a corner kick."

On injury issues: "We need more players. I've seen it more in the last few weeks. I don't want to make excuses but also some decisions have gone against us."

On Seamus Coleman, who cost £60,000, eaving this summer: "I don't think there has ever been better value for money - someone might tell me otherwise. Having longevity and being a one-club man is very rare and he deserves a lot of credit."

Everton defender James Tarkowski, speaking to Sky Sports: "Ultimately the corner decided the game so there are more disappointing ways to lose.

"I didn't think we played very well and it probably took us 75 minutes to get going. It has been a disappointing end to the season and we've drifted down the table. We've ended the season on a bit of a low.

"It's probably just a sign of where we are at as a team. We had a solid away record earlier in the season but have struggled to continue that recently. We have work to do and we knew that anyway. We knew we weren't the finished article.

"I am proud, but the way it has ended is disappointing. We were in an exciting position five or six weeks ago so it hurts and feels a bit rubbish. But on reflection in a few weeks time we'll probably say it wasn't a bad season.

"We know the size of the club and where everyone expects to be. We've got to progress and improve next season."

Did you know?

• Only 22 players made an appearance for Everton in the Premier League this season; the joint-fewest for the Toffees in a single campaign in the competition (level with 1993-94 and 2004-05).

• Everton haven't won any of their last seven games in the Premier League, with this equalling their joint-longest winless run under David Moyes in the competition.

Listen to Moyes on BBC Sounds

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

When Everton delivered an impressive 3-0 win against Chelsea in late March, there were genuine hopes that a season that started with sights on stability might end with a place in Europe.

Since then, Everton's form has flatlined, failing to win any of their last seven league games, dropping out of European contention and slipping to 13th in the table.

Everton have looked like a side running on empty, especially two of their most creative forces this season in Iliman Ndiaye and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall.

It has meant the season ending in frustration for David Moyes and many Everton supporters, who now view it as a campaign in which a big opportunity to return to Europe was missed.

Everton's lack of a reliable striker, with Moyes constantly alternating between Beto and Thierno Barry, has hurt and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Their final league placing of 13th is the same as last season, winning one more point with 49. A season of stability, yes. Serious progress? Questionable.

Everton brought their Premier League season to a close with a defeat at Tottenham.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know how you're feeling.

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page for a selection of your replies - reaction and analysis to follow shortly

Tottenham make just one change from the 2-1 loss at Chelsea.

England international Djed Spence comes in for Randal Kolo Muani.

Tottenham starting XI: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Spence, Gallagher, Tel, Richarlison.

Everton also make one change with Thierno Barry replacing Beto in attack. Departing Seamus Coleman is on the bench.

Everton starting XI: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Barry.

It is the last day of the Premier League, every side is in action this Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Manchester United - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Burnley v Wolves

• Crystal Palace v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Fulham v Newcastle

• Liverpool v Brentford

• Manchester City v Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

• Sunderland v Chelsea

• Tottenham v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Leeds", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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The phrase that came out of Everton last week about this season was "happily dissatisfied."

CEO Angus Kinnear used the phrase in his programme notes looking at the 2025-26 campaign. It immediately angered some sections of the fanbase, who claimed it was an acceptance of mediocrity, but I believe this season was never about breaking into European places.

Without a win in the past six games, the campaign has petered out to simply playing a role in Tottenham's relegation battle and David Moyes admitted: "I think there's a cloud hanging over me at the moment."

However, in the context of the past five years, this has to be seen as progress.

The Toffees stayed up on the penultimate game of the season in 2021-22. In the 2022-23 season they were just 33 minutes, plus 10 added, off going down.

That season was also the catalyst for chaos that continued until The Friedkin Group took over in December 2024. There were PSR charges, points deductions, the better players sold, the board quit, the owner placed high interest loans on to the club and Everton were generally held up as an example of how not to succeed.

Now the fact they took the hunt for a European place to the final two games of the season can be seen as development, especially given the move into their new stadium - but I also see why fans are upset.

Many have seen this as a campaign, in which many of the top teams were well off the pace, as a real chance to dust their passports off. Aspirations have risen quickly, largely because of the work Moyes has done in a short time with a very small squad.

Last summer was seen as a chance to get the Toffees back on their feet. This summer feels bigger than that. It is a chance to really rebuild and bring in more quality to the squad.

While Everton are involved in a relegation match, they are not the subjects and that's a relief.

However, Moyes will aim to win the game to stop the swirl of negativity in what has been a solid season in the grand scheme of things.

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Can former West Ham manager David Moyes help to save his old club by getting a win with Everton here?

Going on form, the answer is probably no. The Toffees have not won any of their past six matches.

But this is going to be a nervy old afternoon for Tottenham and their fans.

Spurs were flat against Chelsea and, based on that performance, Everton will get at least a point.

Thinking about it, I am actually going to say they will take all three. Tottenham have been wretched at home all season - only Burnley have picked up fewer points on home turf - while Everton had a strong record away until their recent run.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham host Everton with their Premier League survival still in the balance.

Almost exactly a year after they won the Europa League, Tottenham find themselves in danger of being relegated from the top flight for the first time since 1977.

Despite that European success, Spurs finished just one place above the relegation zone (albeit 13 points clear of the bottom three) – but what they would give right now to finish in that same position again.

Their destiny is in their hands – given their superior goal difference, a draw will be almost certainly be enough to ensure their survival. But nothing has been straightforward this season for Tottenham, who have ditched three managers since that European triumph.

Spurs have a good recent home record against Everton – but the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hasn't proved much help to its hosts recently. They are winless in their last 10 home league games (D4, L6), their second-longest run in their league history after a 14-game streak between October 1993 and April 1994.

Everton limping to finish line

Everton were firmly in the running for a place in Europe at the start of April but six league games without a win means that prospect has evaporated.

Injuries to key players haven't helped their cause and they will be looking to bolster a pretty threadbare squad in the summer. They have used just 22 players in this season's top flight – fewer than any other side, and the joint-fewest in their Premier League history.

Manager David Moyes has admitted that "results in the last four or five games haven't been good enough" and last weekend's lacklustre defeat by Sunderland was a miserable way to end their first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

For the third game in a row, his side led during the match, yet ended up failing to hold onto their advantage (D2, L1).

Moyes will be hoping for a reaction from his team this weekend – and a win could mean survival for his former club West Ham at Tottenham's expense.

But Everton have a poor record at Spurs – they have won just one of their last 16 Premier League away games there (D4, L11), and have lost the last four by an aggregate score of 13-1.

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On James Garner missing out on World Cup selection: "Well I am disappointed for Jimmy, but I've got to say I'm not surprised because I think the form in the last five or six weeks haven't really encouraged players for selection. I think your team, your players, need to be in form to attract England managers so we have to take a bit of the disappointment with Jimmy as well that we have not been able to get him to the World Cup."

• On where they will finish in the table:"I think we would all accept that we've had a pretty drama free season. We've done a lot of really good things - we still been competitive for the top end rather than the bottom end, we've not got a relegation play-off game at the end of the season. We haven't got to win one of the games to stay up, we've not got that situation so lot's of good things. I think there's a cloud hanging over me at the moment. We've not finished the last six games well enough."

• The Toffees boss reflected on the season, adding: "I don't think we've played particularly bad in any of the games. I just think sometimes goals change the way you feel. When you get a result you think much better about it, when you don't get it then you start to look on the negative side. I don't think that we've played badly, just not quite good enough to win and that's shown in the results."

• Moyes gave an update on the futures of players: "We're close to something with Mykolenko and we will make announcement when ready on Idrissa Gana Gueye. We have two players on loan, Tyrique George and Jack, they will both go to their clubs and then we'll take it from there."

• On fitness: "Idrissa Gueye, he's on the grass, I would say 50-50 chance that he could be involved. We will know a bit more once he's trained."

• On his old club West Ham facing relegation: "I'd love to keep West Ham in the league if I can do but it's more important that I get Everton a top-half finish."

• The Everton manager spoke about Jack Grealish's injury: "We've looked after Jack all the time since his injury. Normally a player would go back to the parent club and be looked after there but we will continue doing our best for Jack."

• On facing Tottenham: "Whether it will only be a top-half finish or whether it be something else you never know, we're going to go there and try to win it. I don't see it any other way. I'm not turning up with a team of kids to see what they can do. They've had that opportunity to show me if I think they're ready or not."

Listen to live commentary of Tottenham Hotspur v Everton on Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Thomas Tuchel has named his 26-man squad to represent England at the 2026 World Cup hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen - loan), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Djed Spence (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona - loan), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)

Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Josh King (Fulham) and Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) will also be part of the Three Lions' pre-tournament squad in Florida when they face New Zealand and Costa Rica.

The England boss added that one more player will also join his squad in Florida, but did not name the individual.

Tuchel said Bournemouth's Scott had an "outstanding" reaction to not being named in the 26-man squad.

"The commitment, the wish to be in pre-camp and just be a step closer to the team, was not even a question to him. This showed me his character and spirit. He gets a chance to take a step closer and to get a cap," added Tuchel.

Tuchel on his 26-man squad: "An exciting day for me and I think for everyone selected. From day one we were very clear that we were trying to build and select the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect 26 of the most talented players. Teams win championships – it is as simple as that.

"What we're trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team. That in mind, we chose a very balanced squad. We chose three goalkeepers, plus Jason Steele (as training goalkeeper). I want to take the opportunity, and thank Jason for being brilliant, and thank Brighton for being so cooperative.

"We chose nine defenders for four positions, we chose seven midfielders for three positions, and we chose seven strikers for three positions.

"I can assure every fan in the country that we have 26 100% committed players with us. Who know their role, who are ready to buy into their role on and off the pitch and who are ready and committed to the idea of team spirit and being unselfish."

Follow reaction to Tuchel's England squad announcement here

Everton are interested in 29-year-old Fulham midfielder Harry Wilson, who will be available on a free transfer when his contract ends in June. (Sky Sports), external

Liam Delap is edging closer to exiting Chelsea, with Everton in pole position to sign the 23-year-old English striker. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

The Paddock Blues podcast's Paul Brown says he's "conflicted" about the future of Everton boss David Moyes, but he understands fans are "sick of the same old" every season.

The Toffees looked in pole position to secure a European spot not long ago, but six games without a win has left them once again on the outside looking in as others leapfrog them.

Brown told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I'm very conflicted. I'm a very big fan of Moyes. Up until Chelsea, I thought we were on the right track, but we fell off a cliff massively.

"Fans are sick of just plodding along. We were terrified of relegation battles, we don't want to go back there again. I did say at the beginning of the season if you gave us a mid-table finish with no threat of relegation, I'd take it, but the carrot was dangling with Europe. And we were told at the start of the season that this team wants Europe. We had it in our hands and we threw it away.

"I think people want a change. You have to be careful what you wish for, but people are sick of the same old, same old.

"We need better players. We need another summer of big recruitment. Everton genuinely needs to go out and buy a lot of players and let a lot of players go as well."

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