Everton

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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What was the biggest surprise this week? Arsenal's Mikel Merino becoming a super sub - super striker? How about Marcus Rashford suddenly looking like a totally different human being now that he has swapped United's red for Villa's claret and amber?

I wouldn't blame Ruben Amorim for this situation for a second by the way, Rashford's problems long predated his arrival. Whatever the cause, the change of scenery has clearly given Rashford some clarity of mind for the time being. Let's hope it lasts.

The other huge surprise must be Everton and not just for their cavalier display against their mighty neighbours from across Stanley Park. Not only did they beat Crystal Palace away at the weekend, but they did so with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Iliman NDiaye, their two most impressive outfield players this season, unavailable.

What's more, that is 13 points from six games. They have averaged more than two points per game since Davie Moyes' arrival, when they had been at less than one before that this season. That is a huge jump and still the biggest surprise for me, though it is getting less surprising by the game.

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Having scored just four goals in 42 matches before David Moyes returned to the Everton dugout, striker Beto has been transformed with four goals his past five games.

Former Toffees captain Alan Stubbs tells The Football News Show how the change of manager at Goodison Park has benefited the striker.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

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Former Everton centre-back Alan Stubbs and BBC Radio Merseyside reporter Giulia Bould spoke to The Football News Show about the club's new stadium and the Toffees' move there from Goodison Park in the summer.

Stubbs said: "This summer is very important for the club. I do think they will reinforce and they will be able to spend some money. I do think Everton's financial situation should really stabilise and the club can really start to move forward.

"The club will get the benefit of the new revenue that the stadium will bring in 12 months later on. It should help with PSR and buying capability.

"The future is very bright for Everton but the club have to learn from mistakes made in the past."

Bould added: "The new stadium is key to the club. The new owners, The Friedkin Group, are currently in negotiations for a sponsorship deal and naming rights for the stadium which will finally see Everton's finances boosted.

"Of course we all know the situation in recent seasons with profit and sustainability rule breaches, points deductions and having to sell off some of the best players in the squad.

"Once Everton move in, more season tickets will be able to be sold, plus it will be a seven-day-a-week venue. There will be restaurants open throughout the week plus they are looking into it becoming a concert venue, which will be really lucrative for the club."

Watch the full programme on BBC iPlayer

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A group of Everton supporters will write to Liverpool City Council to air concerns over safe access to the club's new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.

The venue played host to a test event on Monday and despite widespread praise for the stadium, some fans pointed to crowding at Sandhills station as a serious issue to overcome.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) have already said they will be reviewing matters.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Barry Williams from Everton Fans' Forum said: "When we got back to Sandhills there was no organisation at all. It was basically just a free-for-all to get back on the platform. No structure to it. They weren't guiding anyone where to go.

"The ground was one fifth full. It just doesn't look like Sandhills is going to be able to cope. The Council haven't helped themselves with the parking restrictions. They need to really reconsider it. The fans forum will be writing to the Council over the next few weeks.

"If they're just going to load the platform it's going to lead to some sort of disaster.

"I don't want to scare people or anything – but they're in for a really big shock when they travel to Bramley Moore for the first time."

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We asked for your first impressions of Everton's new stadium, which hosted it's first match on Monday.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: It's bitter sweet. I love Goodison and the last derby showed it at its best. But walking up to the new ground was breath-taking. It's a phenomenal building inside and out. The scale and design is amazing, and the setting on the banks of the River Mersey just makes it that much more special. It'll be sad to leave Goodison, but I don't think anyone will be disappointed by Bramley-Moore.

Neil: Absolutely outstanding stadium but Sandhills Station needs a reset as last night told me its not fit for purpose and that's before five times the amount of people expected. The Stadium is a credit to all concerned and now we need a team to match.

Tom: The pictures don't do justice to how huge and steep the stands are. The outside is beautiful and the fan plaza is huge. It's the greatest ground I've ever been in and a must visit for away fans.

Tyler: Stunning stadium, however I can see some fans being annoyed at the design of the safe standing bollards. The seat I sat in last night had a metal bollard directly in front of my knee so I had to sit on an angle. Bad engineering. The stadium is beautiful though.

Daffyd: As nice as the new stadium is, it's absolutely freezing there. I dread to think what it will be like in the middle of winter, with a strong wind blowing in off the Mersey.

Robert: It is impressive up close, from first impressions outside, to going inside. The concourses are huge and have a huge variety of food and drink, with more to come once the alcohol license is given. Moving up the last set of stairs to see the actual playing surface and the new four stands, wow! There's the safe standing areas of the lower south stand, new home end, and also the same in the front of the away part. Overall it's very big, new, beautiful and modern - and still not fully finished!

Listen to more from fans on BBC Sounds

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Authorities say they will listen to feedback from fans and hope to introduce "immediate steps" for improvement following complaints over public transport access in the aftermath of the first match at Everton's new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.

The Toffees hosted an under-18s friendly against Wigan on Monday, with around 10,000 fans attending what was labelled a 'test event'.

Fans were full of praise for Everton's new home but some took to social media to raise issues - particularly at Sandhills station, which is the closest stop to the ground, where there seemed to be overcrowding on the platform.

Liverpool councillor Richard Clein told the Liverpool Echo,, external external he fears "major safety issues" at the station, and the infrastructure "clearly hasn't been thought through".

A Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson said: "The purpose of test events, like the one held last night, is to identify improvements and adjustments that can be made to ensure matchdays and large events progress smoothly and safely, particularly in terms of crowd management and managing the flow of passengers onto platforms. These test events will be subject to a comprehensive review with all organisations and partners involved.

"The queuing system in place at Sandhills station is modelled on the tried-and-tested arrangements used for major events such as the Grand National in Aintree.

"We'll be taking on board comments from people who attended the event to see whether immediate steps can be taken to address specific concerns raised.

"Over the coming months the space will continue to be developed to become a welcoming and vibrant fan zone, with plans for new toilets, a fixed stage, food and refreshment areas and digital screens to enhance the visitor experience.

"We'll continue working closely with partners at Merseyrail, Liverpool City Council and Everton FC and will keep fans fully updated as the work to deliver these facilities progresses."

Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist

Everton's magnificent new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock opened its doors for the first time to 10,000 lucky Toffees fans successful in a ballot for an under-18s friendly against Wigan.

Four years in the making and at an estimated cost of more than £750m, the club will move in fully over the summer in time for the start of the 2025-26 season.

The 52,888-capacity ground will be the seventh-biggest in the Premier League and has been selected to host matches at Euro 2028. It is hoped the project will contribute an estimated £1.3bn to the local economy.

There are nods to the past everywhere. The old railroad tracks and Grade II-listed Victorian hydraulic tower have been painstakingly restored. The latticework design by renowned Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, still present on two of the four stands at Goodison Park, is incorporated into the brickwork.

Just one stand was open for Monday's game - the steep-tiered South Stand that will eventually house 14,000 people. Inside there is row upon row of food and drinks stands. You can find your standard football fare - the three flavours of pies are selling well. But also on the menu is Korean sticky chicken and salt and pepper chicken subs.

What is your verdict on the stadium, Toffees fans? Were you one of the lucky ones there on Monday, or do you know someone who was there?

Tell us here

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The Athletic's Adam Crafton says it is important for Everton fans to remember the contributions of Sean Dyche as they move into a new era at the club.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Crafton said: "One of the reasons why David Moyes has been able to do so well is that he inherited a defence that has been will-drilled for years under Sean Dyche, and if it wasn't for Dyche then Everton would probably be in the Championship.

"Once they get into that stadium and everything starts to look rosy under the new ownership, they shouldn't forget the job that he did last season with point deductions, and even this season."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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The transformation under David Moyes has been nothing short of miraculous.

He arrived at a club with players devoid of confidence and took charge of a grup that looked unsure how to win.

Combine that with the hangover of PSR issues - meaning recruitment was difficult in January -, with having three of our four strikers injured, with Iliman Ndiaye picking up a knee injury and Abdoulaye Doucoure's suspension, and the form has been quite simply incredible.

The Everton bench on Saturday consisted of two goalkeepers, three outfield first-team players and four youth-team players. When you see other clubs, who have spent big money, bemoan their luck on the injury front, it is somewhat laughable.

The win over Crystal Palace was not pretty but we are seeing an Everton side create good chances week in, week out. And we have got a player who can finish.

Evertonians love a cult hero and, in a resurgent Beto, we have found one.

So often overlooked under the previous regime, he was on the brink of exiting the club in January. Fast forward a few weeks and not only is he scoring goals, his humble nature and appreciation of the love from the fans is fabulous to see.

Sometimes a player not only needs an opportunity but needs to feel appreciated. Moyes has certainly made him feel that.

We are playing to his strengths, while starting games regularly is giving him the adaptation time he has not been given since his arrival.

His unorthodox and unpredictable style is certainly a weapon in our attacking arsenal. Even when other strikers return, they will be hard pushed to replace Beto.

Long may the love affair continue.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Pete from Birkenhead asked: Last week you said you were not convinced that Beto was a £30m striker - care to revise that opinion?

Phil answered: I knew this one would be coming. All I will say is that up until two weeks ago, I'm not sure even Beto's biggest admirers would say he looked like a £30m striker.

Now we come to Beto under David Moyes, who has got him playing to his strengths and running into channels rather than with his back towards goal, plus the fact that Everton are actually playing forward and quickly has also been to his benefit.

He has looked composed, a real focal point and a handful. One thing you could never accuse Beto of was a lack of effort, so it is great to see his endeavour rewarded.

If he continues this form, consistently, then I will be very happy to revise my opinion. He has been excellent in the last few weeks.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Macca from Thailand asked: Do you think that some pundits, including yourself as a football reporter, should be eating humble pie? All that nonsense about Sean Dyche being the best manager to keep Everton in the Premier League, and now David Moyes has taken Dyche's reputation and shredded it. Thoughts?

Phil answered: I do not comment on other pundits because they are perfectly entitled to their opinions. My view was that I thought Sean Dyche would keep Everton up and then leave at the end of the season, as the club needed to take a new direction.

In the end, Dyche clearly decided he could not get any more out of the squad and the decision was made to part ways with new owners The Friedkin Group.

David Moyes has quite simply been transformative. Look at the results, look at the goals. It is the sign of a good manager when players who either struggled, in Beto's case, or were effectively ignored, like Jake O'Brien, have flourished.

In the space of a few weeks, Moyes has got Everton looking up rather than down.

I think history will be kind to Dyche, as he kept Everton in the Premier League in tough circumstances, such as a lack of finances and points deductions, but there is no doubt Moyes has been a breath of fresh air at Goodison Park.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Crystal Palace fans:

Miles: Every game against Everton over the past four seasons could be summed up in one sentence: how did we lose that? Always seem to dominate against them but completely implode. A true curse. Don't think there's a more frustrating fixture as a Palace fan.

Pedro: Typical Palace - one step forward, two steps backwards. A naive and rather clueless performance. Mitchell's a liability, Mateta's excellent, Eze's lazy. Too many gaps. Very frustrating.

Mark: A game we should not have lost, as Glasner said. Had the better chances and should have scored one or two more goals. The first goal was a freak mistake and the second one we struggled to get the ball clear. Very avoidable. Not sure why we can't play as well at home.

Bill: That Selhurst Park is a tough place to come to is an embarrassing myth. We give points away like Christmas presents. I despair of ever seeing a decent game there. It's like groundhog day with Palace playing pretty football up to the final third when they then play like a park team. Away fans are lucky because it's like a different (better) team play then.

Everton fans:

Martin: Some things just work well together. Cheese and pickle. Pork and apple. Moyes and Everton. Get in there. Great team effort. Great three points. Onwards and upwards.

Mark: David Moyes has given the players and fans the belief that we are unstoppable, and it's making a huge difference on the pitch. Even when Palace pulled level and at times were on top, there was always the belief we would get full points. Closer to Europe than relegation, so now it's time to enjoy the rest of the season - our last season at Goodison.

Sean: I just love watching Everton play again. The passion, the drive, the heart - it's all there. Those players look like they would run through walls for this club, and that's what we're all about. It feels like proper Everton again.

Jeff: Beto was absolutely fantastic. Working his boots off from the first till the last minute. It makes you wonder: where would we have been in the league table if he had started every match instead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin? Our first priority should be to renew Beto's contract. He is happy now and the fans love him!