Everton

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport multi-platform journalist

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As Everton prepare for the first of their final three games at Goodison Park, we have delved into some of the stats behind the Toffees rollercoaster season so far.

True to style, Everton have been the team most reliant on set-piece goals this season with 15 of their 34 goals coming from dead ball situations.

Since David Moyes returned for a second spell in charge in January, Everton's attacking metrics have overall increased while they have shored up defensively.

In fact - as the table above shows - since mid-September Everton boast the best defence in the Premier League based on goals conceded.

Despite their increase in attacking output, however, the goalkeeper they will likely face in Saturday's visit of Manchester City, Ederson, has recorded more assists this season than any members of Everton's squad.

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The Blue Room podcast's David Downie shared his thoughts on Everton's final game at Goodison Park being scheduled for 12:00 BST. Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, he echoed an angry reaction to the kick-off time from fans, stating: "It's an absolute joke. I certainly don't hope the club aren't involved in this. 12pm on Sunday - not for me.

"I think most of us would have liked it under lights, which would be a Monday night - maybe Friday night or even a Saturday night with the way they do it these days.

"I can't stand early kick-offs on any day across the weekend. It doesn't have that feeling for me.

"If it was a night game, people would be there overnight, getting all the various things they want to get.

"I just hope Goodison gets the send off it deserves - and 12pm on a Sunday certainly goes against that."

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Such has been the turnaround at Everton since David Moyes took charge of the Toffees in January, he is looking up the Premier League table rather than nervously towards the relegation zone with six matches left to play.

Everton - currently 13th in the table - need two more points to be mathematically certain of avoiding the drop, while there is a five-point gap to Brentford in 11th and Crystal Palace in 12th.

Speaking before Saturday's game against Manchester City, Moyes said: "If you'd said to me that we were avoiding relegation when I came in I'd have said: 'Thanks very much, that's the job I'm here to do at the moment'.

"But it feels like I want to try to look up, I want to make the club feel better, I want us all to start to feel better.

"It's been magnificent with the supporters at the moment, they're joining in, they're helping us. And I think the team's giving them something to shout about as well."

Everton are set to rival Inter Milan for the signing of Genoa's 27-year-old Iceland midfielder Albert Gudmundsson, who is on loan at Fiorentina. (Teamtalk), external

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Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media about the futures of the Toffees players whose contracts run out in the summer, including Abdoulaye Doucoure.

He also discussed the form of midfielder Harrison Armstrong, who is on loan at Derby, and whether he could be part of his first-team plans next season.

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Everton's final Premier League match at Goodison Park against Southampton has been confirmed for Sunday, 18 May with a 12:00 BST kick-off.

The game has been chosen for live television coverage on TNT Sports.

It will be the final time that the men's first team plays a competitive match at the stadium, which opened in 1892.

Everton will move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock at the start of the 2025-26 season.

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Mike Richards of the Unholy Trinity Everton Podcast believes the club might have to be ruthless with some of the players approaching the end of their contracts - but thinks some have to stay to prevent too much of a change.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, he said: "I think it's going to be a transition this summer. The big issue is the number of players out of contract or loans ended - you can't let them all go.

"That's where we are, we can't bring in 13-14 players - it can't and won't happen, that'd be too much change.

"Some of those players out of contract, whether it be (Abdoulaye) Doucoure, Idrissa Gana Gueye, (Dominic) Calvert-Lewin - some of these will be offered new deals.

"But I think Doucoure is Everton of the old and we need to look at Everton going forward in the future and that's getting a different number 10 - more technical, you look at Alcaraz - that for me is the kind of number 10 Everton need.

"We need to move forward and become a better footballing side."

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Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Manchester City: "They have been and still are an incredible football team - it's always a difficult game against them, and we've not got a great record."

• On players' contracts: "We've got a few coming out of contract but we want to keep everybody right, we won't leave it until the last minute, but we'll do it when we're ready and won't be dictated by the players."

• After Abdoulaye Doucoure seemed to gesture about a new contract in his celebration against Forest, Moyes said it is on the players "to influence it and make it easy for the decision to go in their favour".

• On Dwight McNeil: "He's getting more ready, he's had a couple of weeks' training and short periods in games - he's getting up to the intensity, but he was out for a long time. We need him and he's really important, but I don't know if he's quite ready yet."

• With 11 Premier League teams possibly qualifying for Europe, Moyes was asked if they stand a chance of being one. "We'd probably have to win as many games as possible and go unbeaten."

• He added: "If [when I joined] you said we were avoiding relegation, I'd say thanks very much - that's the job I'm here to do. But I want to look up and make the club feel better."

• Youngster Harrison Armstrong has been impressing on loan at Derby - Moyes said he will be involved in pre-season and they will assess what the next step is: "A young player getting games in the Championship is not as easy as you think - it's a credit to him. We like him, we're not selling him or anything - we want him around and we'll assess if he needs another loan."

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We asked for your views on what no one was talking about at Everton, but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Duncan: Jake O'Brien doesn't get talked about enough. Not only does it feel like a cheat code having a 6ft 6ins right-back when it comes to aerial dominance, he's been excellent both in defence and a bit higher, and scored two vital late goals. Moyes' flexibility of formation has made him integral.

Joe: Jake O'Brien. What a job he's doing, so underrated and overlooked by Dyche when he was in charge. He has huge potential!

Robert: Everton are woefully short of creative players and have been since James Rodriguez left. We keep buying wingers but we need a creative player through the middle of the park. There's no point buying exciting strikers if there's no one capable of creating chances for them. This is maybe why Calvert-Lewin is leaving.

Pete: I don't think people really realise the situation the club are in behind the scenes. I really hope there are enough numbers, commitment and expertise especially as we have an outgoing director of football. The people responsible for transfers are probably more vital to the club than any other time. Of the first-team squad, we may potentially need to replace 13 players who have all been regulars this season. All the following could potentially be on the way out:

Out of contract: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Michael Keane, Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic.

Loans expiring: Orel Mangala, Jack Harrison, Armando Broja, Charly Alcaraz, Jesper Lindstrom.

One year left on contract: James Tarkowski, Vitalii Mykolenko, James Garner.

Thomas: A lot of them just aren't good or consistent enough to stay at this football club, even as squad players. Harrison, Lindstrom, Broja all come to mind. I love Doucoure but he's another one whose time is up. Important that we get recruitment right in the summer, going both ways.

Anton: Everton for Europe - this season! This is somewhat tongue-in-cheek but, in all seriousness, since Moyes' return, we are "sixth" in the Premier League and are now actively looking forward to each match (such an alien feeling!). A huge summer of important recruitment lies ahead of us but if we can come through that with a stronger squad depth and if we are able to harness our new stadium, then we could very well be the Nottingham Forest of next season. And yes, for once, let's get ahead of ourselves and feel positive and optimistic - it's not a crime for us Evertonians to feel like this even though after several years of horribleness we've been conditioned to fear the worst.

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Everton are winless in their past 15 Premier League games against Manchester City (D3 L12) since a 4-0 victory in January 2017 under Ronald Koeman.

Kevin de Bruyne has had a hand in six goals in his past six Premier League starts (one goal, five assists).

Everton have drawn their past four home league matches, their longest such run since February 2015. They have never drawn five home league games in a row.

Everton are going well on the pitch - they have taken 21 points in 13 games since David Moyes took charge. Since his first game back on 15 January, only Liverpool and Arsenal (one each) have lost fewer Premier League games than the Toffees (two).

But you know your club best and we want you to tell us one thing - good or bad - that nobody is currently talking about at Everton.

Let us know your thoughts here

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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The big games keep coming for Everton, and at the moment it is a case of "bring it on".

Saturday's win at Nottingham Forest was significant on many levels. It was an away win against a top-three side, but more than that, it was a deserved win and no smash and grab.

It will be fascinating to see how they fare on Saturday against a Manchester City side battling for a top-four place, but Everton will go into the game without any fear. David Moyes was able to make changes at the weekend and still had options on the bench like Beto, Alcaraz and McNeil who made big contributions.

That is a nice position to be in.

Safety is still on the brink of being mathematically certain, but there is no doubt - Everton are safe - yet there is no sign of holidays being booked. There is much to play for, to take into next season, and to keep this momentum intact.

The players still want to impress the manager and so the mindset remains focused. So expect Goodison to be rocking on Saturday!

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BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions in a special Q&A session on Tuesday.

G asked: Would you extend Abdoulaye Doucoure's contract? I'm firmly in the camp of "thanks for everything, but it is time to move on".

Phil answered: It sounds a bit like fence-sitting but I think you would need to know what alternatives are out there before deciding on that - and you would need to know what Doucoure would want, of course.

I would certainly think long and hard about it because he is 32 years old.

I would be tempted to give Idrissa Gueye a deal before Doucoure, even though he is 36 in September.

David Moyes might have some ideas of his own because, despite the upturn since he arrived, Everton's team still needs some serious strengthening.

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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After a winless run stretching six matches, we all wondered when our next three points would come, given the daunting run of fixtures in April.

Years of pessimism still course through Evertonian veins, so it is difficult to shift the "glass half empty" mantra.

This version of Everton is starting to feel different, though. This Everton side simply keeps on going and Abdoulaye Doucoure's stoppage-time winner at Nottingham Forest was beyond deserved.

Since David Moyes' return, we have scored six goals after the 75th minute and picked up seven points in the process. Faith in both the players and the manager is being restored.

I have waxed lyrical about the manager on a couple of occasions since he returned to the club, but what he has instilled in these players is simply outstanding.

The reaction he received at full-time on Saturday from our boisterous away following just emphasised the connection that never truly went away.

The smile on his face and the beating of his chest as his name rang round the jubilant Evertonians - it was fabulous to see and be a part of.

Moyes speaks about the club just how us supporters see the club. His post-match comments about looking to emulate what Forest have done this season should be music to all of our ears.

We simply will not be here to just take part. We will be here to compete.

After years of the "Great Depression", maybe Moyes and The Friedkin Group have found the remedy.

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Everton and Liverpool are set to battle it out for 17-year-old Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg this summer. (The i), external

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We asked for your views on whether you think Everton should keep midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure beyond the end of this season, with his contract set to expire.

Further down this page are the views of some supporters who feel he should be allowed to leave, but we will start with those in favour of offering Doucoure a new deal:

Maddie: I have no idea why we haven't done this already. He's proven himself time and time again and he gets the club and fans.

Carl: He comes up with the goods at key moments and he's a handful to play against. There's as much to keep as there is to let go. And let's remember, he's delivering the goods at key moments against the best players in the world (allegedly). Keep him. Let's enjoy the passion and fire for a few more seasons to lift the new stadium.

Dazza: I'd love to see him signed for another two years, with the option for third year too. Always on the teamsheet and, more often than not, he's in the better performers of the team.

Steve: I would certainly offer Doucoure another 12-month deal. There are worse players in the current squad to offload before him. As he says, he loves the club and wants to stay and that is a real positive. He has a knack of scoring vital goals and is a perfect squad player. Get him signed up.

Karl: He's not a prolific goalscorer, sometimes he looks like Bambi on ice! But he scores vital goals - remember Bournemouth, his goal kept us up. Few seasons earlier he scored twice when we were 2-0 down and his last goal clinched us a 3-2 win and he kept us up!! Then in the last game on Saturday he did it again. Maybe we should discuss lowering his wages. Then use him more as a squad player.

Steve: He was instrumental in us staying up last season after the points deduction and he loves the club and plays for the badge. In every game he has scored this season, Everton have gone on to win. Sign him up again!

Andy: A popular player who has the knack of coming up with important goals at important times; age and wage count against another long contract, but in terms of continuity moving into BMD next season I think they'd be foolish to let him go just yet. If you consider the amount of cash freed up by letting most of the others go, and the better financial outlook, we can afford him. You might even argue that we owe him another year. Loved his cheeky celebration on Saturday and Ndiaye's reaction to it!

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We asked for your views on whether you think Everton should keep midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure beyond the end of this season, with his contract set to expire.

Here are the views of some supporters who feel his time at the club should come to an end in the summer:

Keith: Doucoure has been an integral part of our "struggling" seasons and thanks to some incredibly valuable goals from him, we staved off relegation on several occasions. However, as Everton seek to start a new chapter, I think it's time for him and quite a number of players who are out of contract to move on. So to all of those players: "Thank you for all you've done and good luck for the future."

Shaun: He's scored a few important goals but he gives the ball away far too often and doesn't really create anything, which for the position he plays is nowhere near good enough. Understand he's on stupid wages too so if he wants a new contract to be a back-up player once we have more quality then he needs to drop his wage demands by about three-quarters of his current contract, otherwise good luck to him wherever he goes next.

Kieran: Absolutely no chance, for the past three seasons he has been largely anonymous. He is the epitome of everything that has been wrong with the club over the past few years in that he has consistently underperformed and yet is reportedly our highest-paid player. We are hopefully moving away from the previous model of signing players of Doucoure's ilk who come and are far too comfortable. Everton need young, hungry players who are ready to give everything for the badge, which, in my opinion, Doucoure has not done. Thanks for your service Abdoulaye, but hopefully his Everton career is over.

Terry: As much as I appreciate everything he's done for the club and he gives 100% every game, I think it's best if he moves on, I think Ndiaye is perfect for that position or even Alcaraz if he stays, maybe keep him as strictly a squad player on reduced wages might work, it seems heartless because he's a really likeable fella. But if we are to improve we have got to make difficult decisions.

Nick: Doucs scored the most important goal in Everton's recent history to restore our Premier League status and that should not be forgotten. However, sentiment doesn't get you very far in the modern game and he is prone to more mistakes than other players. He has already secured his place in Goodison folklore and will always be welcome at the club but he's run his course. I'll always be grateful to him!

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton paid £9.1m in fees to agents for transfers made between 2 February 2024 and 3 February 2025 - the third lowest total of any Premier League club during that period.

Only Ipswich (£6.2m) and Southampton (£8.9m) spent lower in payments and transactions involving clubs and football agents registered with the Football Association.

The Toffees spent around £40m on the permanent signings of Iliman Ndiaye, Jake O'Brien and Tim Iroegbunam last summer, while they also brought in Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Orel Mangala and Armando Broja on loan, adding Carlos Alcaraz until the end of the season in January.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Everton have been hamstrung by strict spending constraints and are the only Premier League side during that period with a positive net spend, of £80m.

David Moyes' side are currently 13th in the table and secured a late 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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After scoring the winning goal against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Abdoulaye Doucoure's goal celebration suggested that he has unfinished business at Everton.

The midfielder's post-match interview confirmed this, telling BBC Match of the Day: "It is maybe my last moments at the club and at the moment it is very quiet on the club side.

"I love this club. Since the moment I signed, always I want to stay. My contract is running out so let's see what happens in the next couple of weeks but I love this club."

What do you think, Everton fans? Would you like to see him stay at the club beyond the end of the season, or would you allow him to leave?

Tell us here