Everton have started the season in fine form, picking up seven points from their opening four games. It places them sixth in the Premier League.
The Toffees finished 13th in the league last season, winning just 11 games, alongside a whopping 15 draws and 12 defeats.
Aside from the three relegated sides, Everton were the lowest scoring with just 42 goals in 38 games, also averaging the second-lowest possession per game (40.5%) and the fourth-fewest shots per game (10.7).
Sean Dyche’s Everton side struggled going forwards, but were extremely defensively sound. However, it seems David Moyes is now adding some extra vim to their attacking dynamics.
In this article, we’ll look at:
Everton’s start to the season
Moyes’ side have already netted five goals in their opening four Premier League games this season, averaging the eighth most shots per game (12), despite holding just 44.3% possession on average, the fifth-lowest in the league.
The Toffees struggled in their opening game of the season, losing 1-0 to Leeds United. But, since then, Moyes’ side have truly began to find their identity with the new additions this summer.
Everton still average low possession numbers, but with more intent going forwards when they regain possession, playing direct into the frontline and getting their talented attackers on the ball.
Moyes’ men have the fourth-lowest sequence time for their build up in the Premier League, averaging just 127.3 short passes per game (third-lowest) but making 38 long balls per game (seventh-highest).
This allows Everton to get their best players more touches of the ball in dangerous areas, giving them freedom to find solutions and create chances.
- Everton shots per game in 2025-26: 12
- Everton possession average in 2025-26: 44.3%
- Everton xG total in 2025-26: 6.24
- Everton xG per shot in 2025-26: 0.13
Left-sided dynamics
The new signings of Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have transformed Moyes’ attacking unit, with Iliman Ndiaye moving over to the right.
Everton play with more bias to their left side of the pitch, playing 42% down the left, 22% down the middle and 36% down the right.
Having the likes of Grealish (LW) and Dewsbury-Hall (AM) combine in close proximity on the left with Gana Gueye and James Garner behind them, Moyes’ side clearly look to overload that side of the pitch, interchanging positions and finding solutions to progress play.
This also leaves a switch of play to the underloaded right-hand side, where their top scorer last season now finds himself, isolating his fullback out wide or arriving in the box to finish off attacks generated through that left-sided contingent.
Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall have license to put the ball at risk down their side, with Gueye and Garner close to protect them in transition, allowing opportunities for the counter press to generate even more chances.
- Fantastic Promotions
- Fun Social Media Content
- New Bookmaker
#AD 18+ *New customers only. Bet £5+ in a single real-money bet within 7 days of registration to receive £20 in Free Bets and 2 Rocket Odds Boosts, credited within 24 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Free Bets and Rocket Odds Boosts expire 7 days after credit. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. 18+. Gambleaware.org
Jack Grealish reborn?
Grealish looks like a man reborn since arriving on loan from Manchester City this summer, given license to be the star man, combine, take risks and make things happen.
Moyes is using Grealish’s starpower to his advantage, with the 30-year-old acting as the fulcrum of his side, sucking multiple defenders towards him and opening space for his teammates to operate in.
Getting Grealish as many touches on the ball as possible is key, as it opens up space elsewhere on the pitch for Moyes’ side to exploit, launching their attacks from the Englishman’s gravity.
Grealish has started well for the Toffees, getting four assists in his opening four Premier League games with an xAG of 0.63 per 90.
- Grealish touches per 90 in 2025-26: 51.9
- Grealish progressive carries per 90 in 2025-26: 7.81
- Grealish progressive passes per 90 in 2025-26: 4.06
- Grealish shots per 90 in 2025-26: 1.88
- Grealish key passes per 90 in 2025-26: 3.13
The final piece of the puzzle
With Moyes’ attack finally shaping up with their new left-sided dynamics and Ndiaye on the right, the final piece or even pieces of the puzzle could already be waiting in the wings.
Tyler Dibling joined from Southampton for £42million in the summer, but is yet to make his Everton debut.
But perhaps the key figure who truly could be the final piece of the jigsaw, is Thierno Barry who also joined the club earlier in the summer, joining from Villarreal for a fee of around £27.6m.
As mentioned earlier, Moyes’ side often look to go direct into their forward line, missing out the midfield and getting their danger men on the ball as quickly as possible.
This is where Barry can be a huge help, using his 6ft 5 frame to win aerial duels and his speed to stretch the pitch with runs in behind.
Barry offers a mixture of traits which allow Everton to play over the press, getting their dangerous forwards on the ball quickly and allowing them to hurt teams in transition.
- Barry xG per 90 in 2024-25: 0.48
- Barry xG per 90 in 2025-26: 0.45
- Barry shots per 90 in 2024-25: 3.03
- Barry shots per 90 in 2025-26: 3.64
- Barry aerial duels won per 90 in 2024-25: 3.84
- Barry aerial duels won per 90 in 2025-26: 8.18
Moyes has often been brandished with the “boring” and “defensive” football label, but his side are beginning to show how exciting they can be going the other way, with dynamic interchanges, talented technicians and a 6’5″ monster through the middle!