Everton odds to avoid relegation: Predicted Premier League 2024/25 finish, transfers, best players and full squad
Everton are looking to use the 2024/25 Premier League season to end the Goodison Park era on a high.
After 131 years, this is set to be the Toffees’ final campaign at this historic ground, where they’ve won league titles, FA Cups and European trophies and set the standard as one of England’s most historic clubs. In more recent times, Everton have had to battle bravely against relegation, but ended the 2023/24 campaign 14 points clear of trouble despite suffering an eight-point deduction.
- Read more: Fantasy Premier League 2024/25 tips: Three best value FPL players released so far, and the worst
The improvement at Everton under Sean Dyche is there for all to see and going into the new campaign, there were genuine hopes that at the very least, they could enjoy their last season at Goodison in comfort before upping sticks to Bramley Moore Docks.
However, things certainly didn’t go to plan early doors. Everton lost each of their opening four matches, failing to score in the first two and letting back-to-back 2-0 leads slip in the next two. Since then, things have improved, with the Toffees taking five points from their last three matches, including beating Crystal Palace at home and drawing 0-0 at Goodison with Newcastle before the second international break.
Everton’s title hopes were akin to those of Leicester’s in 2015/16 to begin with, but now they’re priced at 1000/1 by BetMGM to make a magical recovery and write another English football fairytale, which translates to a 1% chance. Even to make the top 10, you’re running odds of 12/1.
Instead, Evertonians are preparing themselves for another grim battle against relegation; one which they simply cannot afford to lose given that giant new stadium that awaits them on the banks of the Mersey.
So, can Everton give Goodison Park the send-off it deserves and arrive at their new stadium in a strong position? Read on for everything you need to know about the current season.
Latest Everton 2024/25 Premier League odds
Everton’s summer transfer window business
Everton transfers in
Everton conducted much of their business early, with Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O’Brien, Tim Iroegbunam and Jesper Lindstrom coming in, while the Toffees have re-signed Jack Harrison on loan from Leeds. Asmir Begovic returned to the club on a free transfer, while Everton also secured the late loan signings of Armando Broja from Chelsea and former Nottingham Forest midfielder Orel Mangala, who was a teammate of O’Brien at Lyon.
Everton transfers out
Everton parted ways with the likes of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey, Andre Gomes and Lewis Dobbin this summer, but managed to keep hold of Jarrad Branthwaite. Mason Holgate joined West Brom on loan, while Neal Maupay also sealed another temporary move away to Marseille in his native France.
Who are Everton’s most important players?
Everton’s top Premier League Golden Boot contender: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Scoring goals has been a problem for Everton over a number of years now and although it almost feels like a lazy trope, they have genuinely never replaced Romelu Lukaku.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has come closest, registering totals of 13 and 16 goals in the Premier League during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, respectively. However, since then, he’s netted just 16 times in 73 league appearances across three-and-a-bit seasons combined, with injuries seriously hampering his progress.
Calvert-Lewin managed to stay fit for almost the whole of last season and while he suffered long goal droughts, there’s no doubt he improved Everton’s overall play. The 27-year-old also rediscovered his scoring touch at just the right time, hitting four goals in the last seven games of the season as the Toffees eased away from any possible relegation trouble.
Seven goals is hardly a total to write home about, but when Calvert-Lewin is fit and firing, he has the ability to score enough for Everton and is already off the mark this campaign with two.
Everton’s primary playmaker: Dwight McNeil
If goals were a problem, then you can correctly assume that Everton’s assist numbers weren’t very high last season, either. In fact, Dwight McNeil was their top performer in this regard with just six and that was at least double any other Everton player.
But that number shouldn’t reflect too badly on McNeil himself. The former England youth international is an old-fashioned winger who loves playing on his strong side, whipping crosses in and connecting with his teammates rather than using his pace on the outside. And McNeil posted 8.18 xA and created 69 chances in the Premier League last season, suggesting he should have been rewarded more by those around him.
At the very least, McNeil is a brilliant set-piece taker and with the likes of Calvert-Lewin and James Tarkowski around, that is a valuable weapon. The 24-year-old registered his first assist of the campaign in the recent loss to Bournemouth and heading into the second international break, he actually sits only behind Bukayo Saka (27) throughout the entire Premier League for chances created (23).
Everton’s card magnet & top tackler: Idrissia Gana Gueye
Among players with over 1,000 minutes last season, no Everton player came close to touching Idrissa Gueye’s 3.47 tackles per 90 minutes. But we shouldn’t be surprised, because whatever Gueye has lacked on the ball, he’s been one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe for years now.
With great defensive responsibility comes a habit of picking up yellow cards, and Gueye was shown eight of those last season — second only to James Tarkowski (11) among Everton players, though Gueye did play around 1,500 fewer minutes. Thankfully, this is a highly experienced player who has been doing this for years, so he’s excellent at walking the tightrope once booked, avoiding red cards.
Everton’s rising star: Jarrad Branthwaite
If we’re honest, Jarrad Branthwaite’s star has already risen pretty high and he was terribly unlucky not to make the England squad for Euro 2024 this summer. The 22-year-old is already a very accomplished centre-back with and without the ball and despite heavy interest from Manchester United this summer, it actually looks like the Toffees are going to keep their prized asset, at least for now.
That will be music to the ears of supporters and Dyche, who will once again make Branthwaite one of his cornerstones in 2024/25 now that he’s back fit.
Everton’s set-piece specialists:
- Penalties: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
- Free-kicks: James Garner
- Corners: Dwight McNeil
Everton tactical analysis, formation & player ratings
Everton team stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season (avg per game):
- Corners: 4.8
- Shots on target: 4.3
- Shots conceded: 14.2
- Offsides: 2.34
Everton 2024/25 player ratings*
- GK: Jordan Pickford – 30% – Pickford is among the lowest-performing goalkeepers in the Premier League this season after some shakey early performances but he’s getting back to his best now.
- RB: James Garner – 30% – Due to injuries, James Garner has had to fill in at right-back this season as he has done in the past. He’s struggled, but then so has the rest of the team.
- CB: James Tarkowski – 46% – Tarkowski didn’t make a great start to the season but has grown into 2024/25 very well in recent weeks. Fifth among centre-backs for aerial duels won.
- CB: Michael Keane – 44% – A bit of Michael Keane’s score is dragged down by his lack of ball-playing ability. However, he’s not exactly consistent defensively and will now be replaced by Branthwaite.
- LB: Vitaly Mykolenko – 25% – The lowest-performing left-back in the Premier League according to the Squawka Score, though that’s partially down to being pinned back in a defensive role.
- DM: Idrissa Gana Gueye – 38% – Has looked a yard off the pace at times, but can you blame him at 35 years old? Will be rotated regularly with Orel Mangala.
- CM: Tim Iroegbunam – 34% – Made a big error in the 4-0 defeat to Spurs, which drags his score down. Still building experience and probably didn’t expect so many minutes this early.
- AM: Dwight McNeil – 64% – Has been unleashed through the middle to great effect, notching three goals and two assists so far. Easily Everton’s top performer, despite the unfair stick he gets.
- FWD: Jack Harrison – 39% – Among the lowest-performing wingers in the Premier League on the Squawka Score due to his low offensive output, but what is hard to quantify is how hard he works.
- CF: Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 49% – Has two goals to his name and has won more aerial duels than any other player in the PL this season. His 13.33% conversion rate needs serious improvement.
- FWD: Iliman Ndiaye – 36% – Scores low as he’s yet to put up raw numbers in the attack, but looks a real talent with the ball at his feet. Shades of Steven Pienaar with his dribbling and should quickly improve his score.
Sean Dyche usually lines up in a 4-4-1-1 system, with an attacking midfielder playing off a target man. Rather than driving inside, wingers are expected to whip crosses into the box, while also offering high defensive work rate and discipline.
When the squad is fully fit, it doesn’t feel like too many of Everton’s new arrivals will be regular starters straight away. However, Iliman Ndiaye has shown some promise with some Steven Pienaar-esque dribbling. Dwight McNeil has also thrived playing through the middle and is among the Premier League’s most creative players right now.
Everton’s full Premier League 2024/25 squad
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | AGE | NATIONALITY |
| Jordan Pickford | Goalkeeper | 30 | England |
| Joao Virginia | Goalkeeper | 24 | Portugal |
| Billy Crellin | Goalkeeper | 24 | England |
| Harry Tyrer | Goalkeeper | 22 | England |
| Jarrad Branthwaite | Defender | 22 | England |
| James Tarkowski | Defender | 31 | England |
| Michael Keane | Defender | 31 | England |
| Mason Holgate | Defender | 27 | England |
| Vitaly Mykolenko | Defender | 25 | Ukraine |
| Ashley Young | Defender | 39 | England |
| Nathan Patterson | Defender | 22 | Scotland |
| Seamus Coleman | Defender | 35 | Republic of Ireland |
| Amadou Onana | Midfielder | 22 | Belgium |
| James Garner | Midfielder | 23 | England |
| Abdoulaye Doucoure | Midfielder | 31 | Mali |
| Tim Iroegbunam | Midfielder | 21 | England |
| Idrissa Gana Gueye | Midfielder | 34 | Senegal |
| Dwight McNeil | Forward | 24 | England |
| Jack Harrison | Forward | 27 | England |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Striker | 27 | England |
| Beto | Striker | 26 | Portugal |
| Iliman Ndiaye | Striker | 24 | Senegal |
| Neal Maupay | Striker | 27 | France |
| Youssef Chermiti | Striker | 20 | Portugal |
Everton FAQs
Where did Everton finish in the 2023/24 Premier League season?
Everton finished 15th in the Premier League in 2023/24, reaching 40 points and sitting 14 points clear of relegation despite suffering an eight-point deduction.
Who is the Everton manager?
Sean Dyche is the current Everton manager, taking the job in January 2023
Who is the current Everton captain?
Seamus Coleman is the current Everton captain, while James Tarkowski and Jordan Pickford often wear the armband in the Irishman’s absence.
Will Everton play in Europe in 2024/25?
Everton will not play in Europe next season, last doing so in the 2017/18 season.
Who is Everton’s most valuable player?
Jarrad Branthwaite is Everton’s most valuable player, with a market value of €42m according to Transfermarkt.
How do Squawka player ratings work?*
Squawka’s new player rating system is completely stats-based. Player scores are based on the numbers they put up across a range of on-ball events, from goals scored to tackles won.
Using extensive research and our expertise, we’ve tailored each score to the player’s position. For example, forwards’ scores are based on metrics such as shots on target, touches in the opposition box and big chances created. Meanwhile, centre-backs are rewarded for winning aerial duels, making blocks, successful long-range passes and so on.
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