You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Arsenal", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Evertonpublished at 11:07 BST 18 October
11:07 BST 18 October
What a joke it is that Jack Grealish cannot play for Everton against his parent club.
The City fans would love to welcome Grealish back like they did Kevin de Bruyne with Napoli a few weeks ago, and he would have had a point to prove against Pep Guardiola. City were happy for him to leave on loan, so why shouldn't he play against them?
Grealish has been a revelation for Everton and is a big reason they have been more expansive this season. Without him, I am just expecting them to stay deep and defend in numbers.
They will still try to get in behind City on the break and try to make the most of the home side's high line, but Grealish would have improved their chances of getting something here and the fact he is not playing has upset me.
Everton might still get some chances but the big question for everyone playing City at the moment is how do you stop Erling Haaland - and I am not sure they will have the answer.
Man City v Everton: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:43 BST 17 October
19:43 BST 17 October
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City will aim to keep pace with leaders Arsenal against an Everton side who have not won a Premier League game at Etihad Stadium in 15 years.
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's meeting.
In-form City
Manchester City have an excellent record in this fixture and on their best run of league form of the season so far.
Pep Guardiola's side are unbeaten in the past 16 Premier League meetings with the Toffees and have won three of their past four league fixtures (D1).
City's most recent win - at Brentford before the international break - was Guardiola's 250th victory as a manager in the Premier League.
He achieved the feat in just 349 matches, the fewest of any manager to reach this milestone and in 55 fewer games than former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who is second on the list.
David Moyes, in fourth, required 296 more matches.
City's tactical tweak
After winning at Gtech Community Stadium, Guardiola said he would invite all the other managers to have won 250 Premier League matches to dinner.
One topic of discussion may have been the 54-year-old's tweak in tactics this season, which mean his side have had the lowest average possession and lowest number of passes per game of any team he has managed in his top-flight career.
Should the hamstring injury sustained by Rodri early on at Brentford rule him out of facing Everton, further tailoring of City's approach may be needed - because since Rodri's debut in 2021-22, City have lost 14 of 48 league matches without the midfielder.
Grealish out for Everton
While Everton may take some confidence from any potential absence, they will be missing their own talisman in Manchester.
Jack Grealish, who moved on loan to Merseyside from the Etihad this summer, is ineligible to face his parent club, meaning Moyes must do without the Premier League's joint-top assist-maker this season as he attempts to arrest a run of eight defeats against City with West Ham,Sunderland and Manchester United.
Moyes last avoided defeat at the Etihad with Everton in December 2012, while the Toffees' last Premier League win at City came 15 years ago during Moyes' first spell in charge.
The return of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from suspension will partly offset the loss of Grealish, although Everton may need more output from their centre-forwards if they are to get a result this weekend.
Beto and Thierno Barry have scored just once in 14 Premier League appearances combined so far in this campaign – the sharpest of contrasts to home favourite Erling Haaland.
City's number nine has already scored nine goals in just seven Premier League outings and another goal against Everton would result in only the third instance of a Premier League player reaching 10 goals in a side's first eight games of a season - and Haaland himself has been responsible for the other two.
There are 36 goalkeepers who have played more than 5,000 Premier League minutes since Pickford's Everton debut in a 1-0 win against Stoke in August 2017.
No keeper has clocked up more time on the pitch than Pickford in that time and he has comfortably made the most saves out of all eligible number ones.
That stands to reason. After all, for much of his time at Everton, he has been scrabbling at the bottom of the table, under 11 different managers.
The one constant? Having the tenacious Englishman between the sticks, saving far more points than he cost.
Sure, when it comes to save percentage, Pickford is middle of the pack, but that is an entirely predictable consequence of facing far more shots than any other keeper in that time – see above graphic.
In the interests of balance, Pickford has also conceded a lot more goals than any other keeper in that time.
However, as my colleague Chris Bevan pointed out earlier this week, Pickford actually prevented the most goals in the Premier League last season so is continuing to prove his worth.
Things are looking up too. Having broken Gordon Banks' consecutive clean sheets for England record earlier this week – he has not conceded a goal for his country at all in 2025 – club side Everton are sitting eighth in the early standings.
Eyeing a top-six spot for the first time?
His words on signing his contract extension were notable, stating "we want to be a team that competes in Europe" and "hopefully some silverware as well".
For one of this grand old club's most loyal recent servants, that kind of legacy would be fitting.
Moyes on Pickford contract, Man City's form and 'hard-working' Betopublished at 11:31 BST 17 October
11:31 BST 17 October
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Jordan Pickford signing a new four-year deal is "really good news" and it is "really pleasing" that Everton have tied down defenders James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite to new deals as well.
Moyes revealed that he told former Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to sign Pickford from Sunderland back in 2017: "When I left Sunderland, people connected to Everton asked me about my players. I told them my young goalkeeper was outstanding. Then they went and signed him that summer."
As a "big voice, important figure and senior player", England's first-choice goalkeeper has already assumed more of a role in the Toffees' dressing room.
In terms of team news, Jarrad Branthwaite and summer signing Merlin Rohl are "back on the grass", but Nathan Patterson picked up an injury while playing for the Under-21s this week.
Jack Grealish will be unavailable to play against his parent club Manchester City. Moyes highlighted that it "isn't a surprise" and he already has a plan to "rejig things".
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be back in contention though after serving a suspension following "two ridiculous bookings". The central midfielder will be "back in and amongst things" this weekend.
Meanwhile, Everton's coaching staff are working with Beto "every day" to get him scoring more goals, after only finding the net once in seven Premier League appearances so far this season.
He explained the striker's approach to training and learning: "The boy is mad to do the work. He is a brilliant lad and his dedication to try to improve himself is second to none. The one thing I do know about Beto is that he wants to score."
When asked if he thinks Manchester City are getting their mojo back, after racking up a run of seven games unbeaten in all competitions, Moyes responded: "I hope they aren't!"
He added: "Pep Guardiola, certainly in the last decade, has been as good as any manager across the world. At the moment though, there's more of a chance that you might get a result against Manchester City. It's still very difficult to do so, but teams have gone and done it so we've got to try to do it as well."
'The rock we have clung to' & 'best since Southall'published at 07:52 BST 17 October
07:52 BST 17 October
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford signing a new four-year contract, that could see him complete 12 years of service at the club.
The 31-year-old says he hopes to "build a legacy" for himself, having already made 326 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions.
Here are some of your replies:
Tommo: It's a shame Pickford hasn't got any silverware with us because he has been the rock that we've clung on to at times to stay afloat. But we've got through the storms and I can see sunnier times ahead for Pickford and the club. A big thanks to ours and England's undoubted number one.
Jacob: Great news. Pickford staying at Everton shows his class. The club owe him so much - we would be in the Championship without him. Everton has a legacy of great, long-serving goalkeepers and I think Pickford will eventually go down as the greatest.
Duncan: I was around for the Neville Southall days, and Pickford is easily the best goalkeeper since. Having such a vital position tied down for a long time means that we have a rock solid foundation to build the team on. I'm delighted and it sounds like he genuinely loves the club.
Mark: In an era of talented players and their agents chasing bigger contract deals and moving clubs every two to three years, it is refreshing to see Pickford - a world-class goalkeeper - stick with one club and be rewarded for his loyalty.
Anton: Honestly, this is excellent news. I know some Evertonians were maybe not fully convinced of him a couple of years ago but he's almost single-handedly kept us in the Premier League the past couple of seasons and has now really seemed to have matured into a top goalkeeper. It's now almost laughable to see people criticise or doubt him.
'I'm just glad he's ours' - fan on 'world-class' Pickfordpublished at 07:48 BST 17 October
07:48 BST 17 October
Image source, Getty Images
Everton fan Lee McClean says Jordan Pickford has been "the difference" in the Toffees avoiding relegation in recent years.
"In his early years at Everton I think Pickford's antics sometimes overshadowed his performances and he was more erratic, but certainly in recent years he has put a lid on that," McClean told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"His performances are much more mature. He's a little bit crazy but he has put in the performances to back it up.
"Having a really good goalkeeper has been the difference between dropping to the Championship and not in recent years.
"If you spoke to most Evertonians, they'll tell you. Certainly between around 2021 to 2023 Pickford was a massive, massive part of the club staying in the division."
The 31-year-old's new Toffees deal has coincided with him breaking Gordon Banks' record with his eighth consecutive clean sheet for England - making it over 12 months without conceding a goal for his country.
"This narrative that he produces his best stuff for England, but at Everton he's not faultless, is just lazy," McClean said. "It can create agendas and I think there is an agenda against Pickford. It must be difficult for him.
"He could have made the decision to move on and go and challenge for trophies elsewhere but you've got to take into account the top four, top six sides often have really good goalkeepers in situ already.
"Everton are a big club and he's England's undisputed number one because he's at Everton. His family are very settled, his wife loves the area, his kids are settled at school.
"What gives even more weight to the idea Pickford is a world-class goalkeeper and more than worthy of his place as England's number one is because he is playing for Everton.
"He has been fighting towards the bottom of the division, often facing more shots than other goalkeepers, yet still has come out in the past two or three seasons as part of the best defence outside of the top four.
"I'm just glad he's ours and has showed his loyalty to Everton."
'Opportunity to build a legacy here' - Pickford extends staypublished at 17:29 BST 16 October
17:29 BST 16 October
Image source, Getty Images
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said Everton is a "special club" to him and the "dark days are behind us" after signing a new deal.
The 31-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract to extend his long stay with the Toffees to 2029.
Since joining from Sunderland in 2017, Pickford has made 326 appearances for Everton in all competitions.
"I'm delighted," he told club media. "Delighted to get it done – it's an extra two years, so four years in total.
"I'm over the moon and it gives me the opportunity to build a legacy for myself here, move forward and build this club to where we want to be.
"Everton is a really special club to me. Coming from Sunderland as a young lad and growing into a man here, it's been a special time for me and my family.
"It's always felt like a natural fit for me, with the fans and the passion – it's second to none and something I thrive off.
"It's been a mega journey so far."
The England number one has been a key figure for the Merseyside club in recent seasons as they battled against relegation and financial difficulties, but now feels the club is heading in the right direction.
"I think the dark days are behind us and it's about building that momentum as a team and the club now," Pickford added. "I think it's the whole deal, really.
"The new owners have come in and have shown they want to move us forward, the manager since he has come in has shown that, too, and us as players on the pitch.
"We've started well and we want to keep building that momentum and get Everton Football Club back to a team that competes in Europe. We know it's tough to do but it's a journey we want to go on and it's hard work that we'll put in as a club.
"We want to have that direction and, hopefully, one day we'll lift some silverware as well."
Happy to see the goalkeeper's deal confirmed? How important for Everton is Pickford committing his future to the club? And where does he rank among the greats?
Can Grealish's Everton form force way back in for England?published at 09:05 BST 16 October
09:05 BST 16 October
Paul Birch BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
No-one can accuse Jack Grealish of not doing all he can to push his way into England boss Thomas Tuchel's World Cup plans.
His form since signing for Everton on loan from Manchester City has been sensational, with four assists and a dramatic match-winning goal in his last outing against Crystal Palace.
The Premier League player of the month for August has strung together six successive top-flight starts for the first time in nearly two and a half years, and his arrival has immediately made Everton more of an attacking threat. Only Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes has created more chances in the division than his 17.
There is no doubting that Toffees fans have taken him to their hearts, but will the same be said for Three Lions boss Tuchel? Yet to feature under the German, and with competition in his position so fierce, he really has his work cut out if he is to add to his 39 caps, the last of which he won in October last year.
"Jack knows that I see how influential he is for Everton and that he is on his way to being the best version of himself," Tuchel said when he announced his last squad.
Grealish is taking a pragmatic view of his chances of making the plane next summer. "At the end of the day, you want to play for the national team, but people are doing well in my position," the 30-year-old said.
"I'm doing well also, but the people picked last month did really well in the two games, so that's fine with me. That's the manager's decision and I fully respect that."
What expected goals tell us about the start to the Premier League seasonpublished at 09:04 BST 16 October
09:04 BST 16 October
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League table is starting to take shape and while results are obviously what matter most, they don't tell the whole story in terms of how teams have been playing so far.
Expected goals (xG) tells us how much teams have been dominating games by creating lots of good chances up front and restricting opponents to few, bad ones at the back.
Penalties are excluded because they distort a team's numbers on how threatening or vulnerable they are in general, especially at this early stage.
Below is a graphic showing how good teams have been in attack and defence, with the most dominant teams in the top-right corner and the least impressive in the bottom-left corner.
Arsenal and Manchester City have been the most dominant sides, with the Gunners having the best defence and fourth-best attack and City the joint-best attack and fourth-best defence.
High-flying Crystal Palace are the only side to rival City's attacking threat, while Newcastle are living up to their name by being almost as impregnable at the back as Arsenal.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have one of the top five attacks in the league but worryingly also rank in the bottom five defensively.
Liverpool's back-to-back defeats following five straight wins gives a more accurate picture of how they have been playing, while Tottenham have needed to be very efficient to make up for their lack of dominance in games.
Aston Villa's early-season struggles are no longer to do with finishing - they have now scored six non-penalty goals from an xG of 6.0 - but simply because they have not been playing well.
While promoted sides Leeds and Sunderland have adapted quite well to the top-flight, Burnley have struggled to make the jump so far with both the worst attack and the worst defence.
'A confirmed Grealish fan but hard to see where he'd fit' published at 12:50 BST 15 October
12:50 BST 15 October
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
Image source, Getty Images
Jack Grealish has been a player and personality reborn since joining Everton on loan from Manchester City, but England boss Thomas Tuchel saw fit to ignore the clamour for an international recall when he selected his latest squad.
Tuchel is a confirmed Grealish fan, but, at present, it is hard to see where the midfielder would fit into England's plans, and who would make way to accommodate him.
Grealish will join names like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, who both face a fight to win places either as the 10 or on the flank.
This is not to denigrate Grealish's form, which has already made him a hero with Everton's fans, but a brutal reality.
Tuchel may also want to see Grealish produce consistently over 20 Premier League games rather than the seven so far. This is the task facing the popular 30-year-old if he is to put himself back in World Cup contention.
What makes Pickford so good?published at 12:12 BST 14 October
12:12 BST 14 October
Chris Bevan BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Jordan Pickford broke Gordon Banks' record last week with his eighth consecutive clean sheet for England - taking him past a year without conceding a goal for his country.
As Everton are expecting to announce a new long-term contract with Pickford when he returns from international duty, BBC Sport looks at the technical strengths and weaknesses behind his emotions - and how much they matter.
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green said: "When he is facing a shot, he drops his hands wide and low behind himself, and puts one hand up slightly before the other. There are oddities in his set position, in that he is slightly out of sync, but you can unpick his style all you like because what matters is that he makes the save."
With no obvious weakness when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net, Pickford's emotions has often been seen as his biggest issue- in his first few seasons at Everton it felt like we saw as many errors from him as there were eruptions.
That has changed - he has made much fewer mistakes leading to goals when playing for his club in recent seasons, and that increased focus has long been apparent for his country.
He has made only one error leading to a goal since his international debut in 2017 - a poor clearance against Belgium in March 2024.
"That stat really shows the level of consistency he has achieved for England, because in terms of international games played, that equates to one error over more than two Premier League seasons," Green added.
While his consistancy at preventing goals has improved, like every modern-day keeper, he is no longer only judged by how good he is with his hands.
"He has definitely improved his all-round play with his feet," Former England goalkeepers Paul Robinson explained. "Where Jordan has always been strong is with his long distribution and his ability to start a counter-attack - there are not many better than him at that in the Premier League.
"He can kick it accurately for absolutely miles in a similar way I used to do, and as a goalkeeper you enjoy that. The game has changed now, but he is still able to play out with shorter passes from the back too.
"You would do very well to find the perfect keeper anyhow but, when I analyse his overall game, I feel like Jordan understands his own qualities and he has grown and developed into the keeper we see now."
Reviewing Everton's international starspublished at 09:29 BST 14 October
09:29 BST 14 October
Briony Bragg Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
As it is the international break, it feels appropriate to have a look at the prospects of the Everton squad for next year's World Cup.
There are nine players in the team playing at a senior international level - Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson, Jake O'Brien, Seamus Coleman, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Adam Aznou, Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye and Beto. Not sure if these will all qualify for the World Cup, though, especially with it looking extremely difficult for both Guinea-Bissau and Republic of Ireland.
Of those most likely to be in North America next summer, it has been an extremely positive international break.
Finally, Pickford is receiving the plaudits he deserves as the first goalkeeper in England's history to keep eight consecutive clean sheets. It was nice to see him cheekily clap last week towards the Crystal Palace fans as they sang "England's number one". His reliability and consistency cannot be questioned - although, for Evertonians, it is sometimes appreciated how criminally underrated he is so we get to keep him.
Ndiaye registered two assists for Senegal in their 5-0 win over South Sudan, alongside midfielder Gueye. Mykolenko also seized an assist as Ukraine beat Iceland 5-3.
Then there is Jack Grealish. There was no call-up this time for Jack, who has created nearly twice as many chances in the Premier League this season than any other English winger. Player of the month for August, it may have improved the atmosphere Thomas Tuchel so craved at Wembley had he called up a box-office English star who looking back to his best.
And let's not forget Jarrad Branthwaite, who will be keen to put his injury woes behind him and put himself back in the frame.
With under a year to go until the World Cup, it is testament to the quiet progress being made that Everton look well stocked with international pedigree, and more potentially to come.
The next major tournament could see Hill Dickinson Stadium's finest making their mark far beyond Merseyside.
Toffees 'are in a good place' - Pickfordpublished at 08:09 BST 14 October
08:09 BST 14 October
Image source, Getty Images
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford says the club "are in a good place" after starting the season strongly under David Moyes.
The 31-year-old, who joined the Toffees in 2017 for £30m, has agreed a new deal, with sources telling BBC Sport an announcement will be made in the coming days.
He is on international duty with England but acknowledged to BBC Radio 5 Live that the terms of his contract have been settled.
"I think it's agreed. I have got my sole focus on tomorrow's game [versus Latvia] to be fair. I have got my England head on," Pickford said on Monday.
"We will see what happens after that but, yes, we are in a good place."
Everton are eighth in the Premier League table and unbeaten at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium so far this season.
"Sometimes you can have a new stadium and not have that connection, but I think we have started off at the new stadium really well," added Pickford.
"The manager was pretty straight with us at pre-season. He wants us pushing where Everton should be.
"In the past few years, we haven't really started so well. At the start of this season, we have had seven games and got 11 points. We are just above mid-table, so that is a better start and it's about keeping that momentum."
"The gaffer keeps pushing us to get to our targets."
Would Pickford ever leave and when will Aznou play?published at 18:58 BST 10 October
18:58 BST 10 October
Image source, Getty Images
In the final part of our Q&A with BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould, we discuss the futures of Jordan Pickford and Adam Aznou.
Rich asked: I don't want to lose him, but what stops Pickford playing for a top five English club or European team? Is it Jordan himself who has reasons why he doesn't want/need this?
Giulia: It is my understanding that Pickford sees Everton as his home, and there is intent on both sides for him to finish his career at Hill Dickinson Stadium with a new deal being discussed.
Loyalty is not a new thing at Everton - Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman are just two who stayed with the Blues when there was interest from other clubs. Pickford loves being Everton's number one. He made his 300th Premier League appearance for the club against Crystal Palace and remains England's number one, breaking the clean sheet record against Wales with his eighth consecutive one.
Sometimes players just fit at a club and Pickford is a great example of this. Many credit him with keeping Everton in the top flight over three brutal seasons fighting relegation and he is regarded as a hero for that. A new flag is soon to be unveiled at Hill Dickinson for their goalkeeper matching the fans' song "Jordan Pickford is dynamite", and the man himself is more than happy to call the stadium his home.
Magnus asked: Why hasn't Adam Aznou played a single minute for Everton so far? There are games where it tactically would have been better to play him.
Giulia: David Moyes has a different view right now, Magnus. The manager has openly said, "he's a really good footballer, a nice footballer. He's just got a bit of building up to do, a bit of physicality to get, so we'll do that and we'll see how he develops", making it clear he is one for the future.
The 19-year-old moved in the summer from Bayern Munich, where he made just two substitute appearances in the Bundesliga, before a loan to Spanish side Valladolid. Everton have played him for the under-21s as part of the bid to build up his physicality and I don't anticipate seeing him make a first-team appearance yet.
Moyes has moved James Garner and Seamus Coleman to left-back when Vitalii Mykolenko has been injured, both playing out of position. I see him being used in the under-21s more before Moyes thinks he is ready.
Check back over the Everton page to find the rest of Friday's Q&A with Giulia.
Is false nine an option and will Everton look for a striker in January?published at 16:59 BST 10 October
16:59 BST 10 October
In the second part of our Q&A with BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould, we take a look at David Moyes' striker conundrum and if they might target one in January.
Peter asked: With both Beto and Barry struggling to make a good impression, is it time for a change of tactics and formation using a false number nine, with any four from Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Dibling and Alcaraz providing our attacking threat?
Giulia answered: It's a tricky one, Peter. How does David Moyes get his strikers firing when one seems low on confidence and the other has little experience? It is something the manager is constantly mulling over.
Regarding Thierno Barry, Moyes has said: "I'm introducing a boy who has not played in the Premier League, a centre-forward who has not played in the Premier League. I don't want to put too much pressure on him." Now, he did start Barry against Crystal Palace at the weekend, but the 22-year-old struggled and was replaced by Beto at half time.
As for Beto, he scored eight Premier League goals last season and seven were once Moyes returned to the club in January. He's just one in seven appearances this term and the manager has even said he is disappointed in his frontman. Moyes has not indicated he will move anyone else into a false nine.
He did use Iliman N'Diaye behind Barry against Palace but it was clear that wasn't working and neither was Tyler Dibling on the right. He was also taken off. Jack Grealish prefers the left, freer role and I can't see Moyes altering that when the England star has created twice as many chances as any other winger in the Premier League.
On to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has proved himself in the number 10 role. He has been able to help out defensively when needed so I would not see him moved either. It leaves Charly Alcaraz, who has played a false nine before at Southampton, and certainly made an impression coming on against Palace where he changed the game. Moyes has tended to play with an out-and-out striker over the years but if the goal tally remains low I see false nine as an option he could try out.
Image source, Getty Images
Cal asked: Should Everton go out for a centre-forward in the January transfer window? If they do, would Marcus Rashford be a good fit?
Giulia answered: A centre-forward has been on Everton's shopping list for some time but to get one already firing costs a lot of money. They also tend to cost even more in the new year.
Liam Delap held talks in the summer and Moyes made it known he was a huge fan of the then Ipswich striker. However, he chose Chelsea and that is because they could offer Champions League football.
Without Europe, it has been tough for the Toffees to land targets, not to mention some players have been put off by the chaos that went on until recently. I don't see Everton doing loads of business in January but if the right player at the right price is available they will go all out for them.
Regarding Marcus Rashford, I don't see him being available given that his loan at Barcelona is going well.
In part three of the Everton Q&A, on this page later on Friday, Giulia discusses the futures of Jordan Pickford and Adam Aznou.
Are Everton financially stable and is silverware on the horizon?published at 13:50 BST 10 October
13:50 BST 10 October
Image source, Getty Images
In the first part of our Q&A with BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould, we focus on Everton's finances and possibility of silverware.
Steve asked: How financially stable are Everton now?
Giulia answered: For those that remember the situation from about 2023, when financial breaches and points deductions were in the headlines, the situation now is like night and day.
Profit and sustainability issues are very much a thing of the past at Everton. When new owners The Friedkin Group came in at the end of 2024, short-term debt was cleared to give the club a clean balance sheet. Since then, equity investment has continued to be injected, with the acquisition of new shares as recently as last week (£45m).
Fans will have seen new commercial deals appearing too and the Toffees are now benefiting from the major uplift in revenue from Hill Dickinson Stadium. The ground has more than doubled matchday revenue and that also means the club is stable.
Add to that the fact Jarrad Branthwaite was kept in the summer, despite some lucrative offers, shows Everton no longer have to sell their assets to stay afloat - which was the case when Richarlison was sold to Tottenham for £60m in 2022.
Peter asked: Humans are not old dogs. Everton need results, not excuses. Can David Moyes win something with Everton?
Giulia answered: Moyes remains the manager who came closest to winning Everton their first trophy since 1995. The FA Cup final in 2009 ended in defeat by Chelsea, but it was seen as a sign of things to come. As we all know, the running of the club has seen the situation go in the opposite direction.
Moyes has returned to the Toffees, however, with the Conference League trophy on his CV after lifting it with West Ham. The 62-year-old would love to be the man to end the silverware drought. He knows there has to be a rebuild to do this, including looking at the academy structure that was prolific at churning out talent during his first stint.
Without a crystal ball it is impossible to answer the question, but no Everton manager in recent times would love to bring a celebratory bus parade to Merseyside more than Moyes. His first job was to steady the ship and the fact the Blues sit eighth - three points off fourth - this international break shows progress in that.
He united the fans and restored some pride, and his words after the final home game of last season prove he came back because he knows what success means to Everton. He told the Goodison crowd, before their stadium move, "this club felt like, to me, one which was a big family, but looked broken, felt broken – and it doesn't feel like that any more". The next step is turn that passion into a trophy.
Come back to this page later on Friday for part two of Giulia's Q&A, which will look at Everton's striker conundrum.
