Everton

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Liverpool have lost just one of their past 24 Premier League home games against Everton, winning five of the past six at Anfield.

Following a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in the reverse fixture, Everton are looking to avoid defeat in both Premier League meetings with Liverpool for the first time since 2020-21, when they won 2-0 at Anfield after a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Games between Liverpool and Everton have produced more red cards than any other fixture in Premier League history (25), with the Toffees' 17 reds against the Reds also the most one team has against another in the competition. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones were both sent off late on in the reverse fixture in February.

David Moyes says the "brilliant job" his players have done since he rejoined Everton to replace Sean Dyche in January is behind the upturn in form.

The Toffees are on a nine-match unbeaten run - their longest sequence without defeat since February 2017 - with only five sides across Europe's big five leagues managing to also stay unbeaten during that period.

Moyes has also transformed Everton's attacking output - scoring in nine successive league matches, having scored just one in the previous six.

"It [the stats] says that the club and certainly the team are on a better trajectory than we were before," he said.

"We've started really well. The players have done a brilliant job.

"There is a lot that can be said about a new manager coming in and I know it is our job to get them playing, but I have to say that the players have picked themselves right up, they have turned the whole place around - the crowd and the support - and they have gone on a run, which has been really good.

"Actually, we were a bit disappointed with a couple of the draws in there - that we didn't get victories.

"There might have been a couple of draws in there which we could have been a bit lucky with but, overall, I think the players have got everything they have deserved.

"They have got the results and we want to keep it going."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Merseyside derby away to Liverpool in the Premier League (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moyes said he is "hopeful" Vitaly Mykolenko will be fit but he will "have to wait and see tomorrow exactly how he is".

• On Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, who have also returned to training: "Both of them are coming on great. Illi is a little bit further on than Dwight at the moment, but it is great that they are back in training".

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin is "the only one who's really behind the rest" in his recovery: "No date with Dom yet but he is back on the grass so good signs he's getting back to it."

• When asked about reports Jarrad Branthwaite may consider his future to help his England chances, Moyes said: "Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott all went on to become international players. Jarrad is in the position where he can do that. I see that as a challenge for him. The club has developed a lot of England players in the past and have a very good England goalkeeper."

• On the change in form since his arrival: "The club and team are in a better trajectory than where we were before. Players have been fantastic, they have picked themselves right up and turned the whole place around, the crowd, the support. They have got everything they deserved."

• He wants a similar performance to the one Everton gave in the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in February: "It was good to pull the gulf between the teams together. I thought the players did a great job. We have to do that again. We've got a lot of confidence at the moment. We're playing really well and we have to keep that going."

• On the challenge of visiting Anfield: "Liverpool's league position shows how they are playing. They've had a couple of tough games but that can happen. It's a big game. It's always been incredibly difficult to go to Anfield and get a result. But, we've got an opportunity to try again. It would be huge for us as a club to get that. It is not something we have done often."

• Does his own record of having never won at Anfield weigh heavily on him?: "Yeah, I don't want it. I want to win and I want to get rid of it if I can."

• How do Everton stop Mohamed Salah?: "We could try to build a wall! One of the top Premier League players of his generation."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Liverpool v Everton at 20:00 on Wednesday

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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So often the scene of misery, trips to Anfield are very rarely looked upon with much expectation.

Despite the current gap between Everton and Liverpool, the feeling as we approach the game feels somewhat more relaxed than recent years. No relegation battle to be concerned with is the main reason and Everton certainly have nothing to lose.

Motivation should be no issue. Wednesday's Merseyside derby comes quickly after what was an explosive fixture at Goodison Park; a throwback performance that epitomised everything that local rivalry means, I am sure there will some spill over into the return fixture.

Abdoulaye Doucoure will surely be a target after playing a starring role in instigating the post-match melee in February.

There are scores to be settled and the small matter of an opportunity to slightly postpone the champions elect from popping the champagne corks.

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David Moyes' Anfield track record does not make for pleasant reading. No wins across his managerial career does not elevate our hopes of taking three points.

So often accused of taking a knife to a gun fight against the better sides, his starting XI and tactical set-up will be interesting.

He has spoken about being able to play with more freedom as the season meanders to its conclusion. Hopefully this message trickles into the thinking on Wednesday, but it will certainly need to be tapered and controlled given the attacking prowess the opposition has.

Given Liverpool's recent downturn in form, negativity surrounding a certain right-back and Arne Slot's Goodison Park head loss, this is a real opportunity for us to upset the apple cart.

Maybe I am dreaming, but do not bet against us.

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Everton have reported losses of £53m for the 2023-2024 season but Reach PLC's business of football writer Dave Powell believes their latest financial reports "point to a more positive outlook" at the club since The Friedkin Group's takeover.

Although the figure is less than the £89m deficit the club filed from 2022-23, it is the Toffees' seventh successive season of losses.

"Accounts are a strange thing because they are a snapshot in time," Powell told BBC Radio Merseyside. "It is hard to think of a club that has changed more, in the short amount of time since this financial year ended, than Everton.

"The club have been wanting to stem some of these losses. I think a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes, following the first PSR breach, to bring these costs down to a more sustainable and manageable level.

"These figures have come from a period when the football club were going through the long takeover process with 777 Partners and accrued a lot of stadium debt through that.

"There are trends in these figures that point to a more positive outlook.

"I think we should be looking at them through the lens of it being the final year of Farhad Moshiri's ownership - you are basically looking at the struggles that came with the final tumultuous years of his ownership.

"This feels like a financial year they can draw a line under and build towards something new.

"Player trading is an area the club can get better at. They haven't been able to add to their squad in a really meaningful way in recent years, but they are in the position now where they can think about adding to the squad as opposed to selling key players just to raise some money."

Listen to the full conversation on BBC Sounds

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Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye says the team have not yet started having conversations about moving on from Goodison Park and he will personally struggle to play his final games at the stadium.

The Toffees will move to their new Bramley Moore Dock home in the summer after 132 years at Goodison.

"We haven't started speaking about this yet but it will come in the next couple of games," Gueye told BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould.

"It will be a special moment for the club and for the team. But I'm not looking forward to this moment.

"Everything; the fans, the pitch, everything. It's not something you can explain, the atmosphere is unbelievable. This atmosphere helps us a lot and makes it more intimidating for the opponent. It's a special area and it's good for us because it gives us more opportunities to win games."

Gueye added: "I enjoy my life at Everton because Everton means a lot to me.

"I have nice friends here, my two kids were born here and they are big fans.

"It's hard for me to talk about the new stadium because I don't want to end the story with Goodison - it's a special area for us."

Everton are plotting a shock £25m move to sign Liverpool's Scotland winger Ben Doak, 19, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough. (Sun), external

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Everton are interested in Sunderland's English duo - forward Chris Rigg, 17, and midfielder Dan Neil, 23. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are interested in Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 22. (Sun), external

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Former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard says the club's fans can help to make the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock feel like Goodison Park.

During a tour of the new venue , externalthis week Howard told Everton's Youtube channel: "It is sad leaving Goodison Park, I don't think anybody would deny that but Goodison will live forever.

"The fans are the hearbeat of the club and made Goodison what it is. They have the chance to make this new stadium the same."

The Toffees will leave their current home at the end of this season, bringing an end to their 133 year stay at Goodison Park.

Howard added: "What Goodison Park has always done for opponents is given them the fear because it is so close and tight and intimate. This is what grounds used to be, and we are fortunate to have had it for so long.

"This stadium gives that same sort of feel - that real home feel and putting pressure on the opponent."

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Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.

The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.

It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.

There have been many standout free-kicks in the FA Cup over the years, so BBC Sport has wound back the years and selected a few to celebrate all over again.

Remember this one? As commentator Guy Mowbray said: "It was the David Beckham moment - but this one was all about Leighton Baines."

A goal that has down in FA Cup history, not only for its precision and timing but also for the celebrations.

Baines' "moment of magic" against Chelsea on Saturday, 19 February 2011 meant Everton took the FA Cup fourth-round replay to penalties, which they went on to win.

Fast forward to 03'11:00 to enjoy!

Sunderland and England Under-19s midfielder Chris Rigg, 17, is being closely monitored by a number of clubs - including Everton, Tottenham and West Ham. (Sky Sports), external

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Everton's new Bramley-Moor Dock stadium has been named as a host venue for rugby league world champions Australia's tour of England this autumn.

The 52,888-capacity ground will stage the second Test of the three-game series on Saturday. 1 November, with Wembley stadium and Headingley in Leeds as venues for the other two fixtures.

The Kangaroos' visit to England will be their first since 2003, with all matches set to be shown live on the BBC, and will be the first non-footballing event at Everton's new multi-purpose home.

The club's current home Goodison Park staged four Australia matches in the early part of the 20th century, including the Kangaroos' first-ever tour of England in 1908.

Everton's new home, which held its second test event last weekend, is also one of 10 venues across the UK and Ireland chosen to host games during Euro 2028.

Everton are set to begin talks with defender Jarrad Branthwaite over a new deal to ward off interest from elsewhere. (I Sport), external

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Mike Richards
Fan writer

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Given Everton's squad has 13 players whose contracts or loan deal expires in the summer, many names are considered when thinking about who needs to do more, assuming they want to earn a new deal.

The one player who immediately springs to mind is Jack Harrison.

His second loan spell was a deal of convenience as the previous manager had worked with him and there was no additional loan fee attached - handy when money was incredibly scarce.

We all hoped he would have been able to kick on this season and offer more output. Sadly, that has not been the case.

With his first goal of the season only coming in the recent draw with Wolves, it is safe to say Evertonians are not clamouring for his permanent signature.

He recently spoke about the exciting future for the club and wanting to be part of it, but you have to feel he has to uproot a fair number of trees for David Moyes to want to sign him.

The manager has challenged him a couple of times since his arrival, almost dangling a contract at the end of long stick.

Although this summer will be one of great change from a player and club perspective, you have to wonder how much Harrison will have to do to be enough to sway the minds of those at the club.

There is no questioning his work-rate. As an attacking outlet - in a side short of goals in recent seasons - if you are not scoring or creating, you are not needed.

This feels like the end of the road, but in the world of Everton, you should never say never.

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