Everton are still unbeaten in the Premier League despite a disappointing end to the summer transfer window.
When the Folarin Balogun fiasco happened late on during deadline day and saw the Toffees finish the transfer window with four new additions and eight exits, nobody imagined them reaching the international break unbeaten.
They did retain the services of Jack Grealish, Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl, who were already at the club last season. In addition to signing Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard, Brennan Johnson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
But losing the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Beto, in particular, left them rather thin in attack. Thierno Barry is the only out-and-out striker of the first team with senior experience, for perspective.
The full-back spots are also precarious, with Jake O’Brien and Maitland-Niles as the only options on the right and Vitalii Mykolenko alone on the left.
And yet, Everton have responded with their longest unbeaten run across all competitions in four years. They haven’t lost in seven games so far (four wins, three draws). That’s the same amount they managed between August and September 2022 (three wins, four draw) under Frank Lampard.
How has David Moyes stabilised Everton once again?
It’s still early to make long-term statements regarding Everton as a club. But they have gone past the first hurdle with flying colours, being able to rest and regroup during the international break.
And this isn’t exactly anything new for Moyes with the Toffees. He went back to Goodison Park in January 2025, in what looked like the season they would indeed get relegated after years of scraps in the bottom end of the table.
They were very much in the mix alongside the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Leicester City when the Scotsman took over from Sean Dyche.
But despite losing his first game back, Moyes then led them to a nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. This fuelled their unlikely comeback that saw them climb from 16th and two points above the relegation zone to finishing 13th – 23 points ahead of the bottom three.
The 63-year-old hasn’t been able to deliver consistency, though. Every long run of good results is eventually followed by a winless one, that ultimately sees them finish around mid-table and not contending for European football.
There is a huge chance of this happening this season once again, as well. One or two injuries could be the death of the Toffees in terms of competitiveness. Just like it was when Jack Grealish when down last year around January.
This is one of the main reasons for complaint among Everton fans. Many even blame Moyes, claiming their ceiling under him is lower than it should be. Which is arguably true.
Lack of flexibility
Moyes is not the most flexible manager in the world, tactics wise. Everton played 97% of their games last season in the same formation (4-2-3-1), the highest percentage of any team.
It has previously been mentioned that a system change could benefit and empower a few of their players. But, you guessed it, Moyes has kept the 4-2-3-1 for the current campaign.
And yet, against all odds – especially after the frusrating end to the transfer window, Moyes and Everton keep grinding out results.
Granted, not all of them have been convincing. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah missed three huge opportunities for Crystal Palace in the first half before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring in a 2-0 win.
They also needed worldies from George and Maitland-Niles to rescue a point against Manchester United. Plus a late James Tarkowski goal from a corner to avoid defeat at Bournemouth in stoppage time.
Opta’s expected points model has the Toffees 10th in the ‘justice table’, as opposed to seventh in ‘real life’, for perspective.
Toffees still unbeaten
But Everton are one of just five teams still unbeaten in the Premier League, alongside Manchester City, Brentford, Leeds United and Liverpool.
They average the fifth most shot attempts (16.0), as well as the eighth best shot differential per game (+2.2). That is despite having the fourth lowest average of possession (43.9%). Not to mention the best defence in the division, alongside Leeds (0.6 goals conceded per match).
The Toffees are also able to supply their striker, Thierno Barry. But the Frenchman is having a hard time putting them away. He ranks second in big chances (8) and third in Expected Goals (3.5 xG), but has only scored twice from those.
Of course, this isn’t the most reliable formula in the world – especially with such a small group of players. It doesn’t mean they are finally going back to playing European football for the first time since 2017.
But it’s important to acknowledge the tremendous job David Moyes has delivered short-term once again having his back against the wall.