Everton

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David Moyes has had a dramatic impact on Everton's form since returning for his second spell as manager, lifting the Toffees away from the Premier League relegation zone.

An exciting summer awaits off the pitch as the club prepares to move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Asked if there will be significant changes on the field, Moyes told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There will be quite a few priorities because we want to rebuild in some ways.

"The team in its current form would be doing as well as a lot of the teams so great credit to the players playing at the moment but we also have an opportunity to make some changes and try to add some different things to the squad.

"We are still assessing, we have some ideas on what we probably need to do - whether that is a better player in a position or another player in a position, that will be dictated by which players are staying and which players are going.

"It is a good thing that we have a busy summer but the hard thing is to get it all done and ready as quick as you would like.

"Anybody with any wisdom would say you can't get things done in one transfer window, at the moment the way the team is playing is well enough but we need to add some more quality and a bit more style and finesse in different players. Then see if we can keep winning and getting better."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

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

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Winger Jesper Lindstrom has had a hernia operation "that will rule him out now for most of this season".

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, is "out on the grass and training well" but it will be at least another three weeks before they can look at a return to full training or matchday involvement.

• Vitaly Mykolenko and Dwight McNeil have been in full training this week but are not expected to be available to start.

• On opponents Nottingham Forest: "Playing top teams at this time of the season is always difficult as they are fighting for points. They're having a great season and we are going to have to play well."

• He said their form "over the last couple of months has been as good as most teams" in the league but to finish as strong as possible they have "got to turn draws into wins".

• On whether there has been any progress in player contracts and summer planning: "We've started to look forward and hopefully in a week or two we can start looking at player contracts and what we are going to do."

• He said "Everton hold all the cards" in regards to Jarrad Branthwaite because he is on a three-year contract. Moyes added: "I wouldn't think he's one of the players we will want to lose."

• On whether Forest's contrasting seasons of battling relegation to Champions League hopes is something Everton can take inspiration from: "We did it at West Ham. We were battling relegation and then we qualified for Europe."

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

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Everton manager David Moyes speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about his Goodison Park memories: "It is an old lady, lots of style, it got done up to keep it going but every Evertonian has been waiting for the chance to move to a new stadium. See it as a new opportunity, a new beginning. I do as well. I think there is a chance now we try to move Everton on, bigger crowds come in and bigger opportunity to present ourselves to lots of players. 'Why don't you come and play here?'

"I don't think I can describe Goodison in one word. There have been times where I have loved it, small tunnel, dressing room and manager's office, but it is a special place more importantly because of the people who come to it. The supporters who come, the atmosphere that is made and over the years there have been brilliant managers that have worked here and brilliant players who have played there. We will be sad to see it go. Great moving to a new stadium but we have to be cautious, it is never easy but hopefully the supporters will give us the same backing that we have had over the years."

Read the full interview with Moyes here

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Six of Everton's past eight Premier League games have been drawn, while the Toffees have drawn 14 league matches overall this season.

Only in 1994-95 (17), 2010-11 (15), and 2012-13 (15) have they drawn more Premier League matches in a single campaign.

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Everton fan Lee McClean says "it's hard" to think the club only have three more games at Goodison Park, and is also hopeful a decision is made very shortly as to when the final home game will be played.

Speaking about the stadium and how the overall feeling has changed through the season, McClean said: "It is different now - especially since David Moyes came in, the whole place has been invigorated a bit more.

"He's put more of an emphasis on how important Goodison is and tapped into the feelings of the fan base. You are finding yourself counting down and taking things in a bit more and social media activity - you're seeing a lot of people posting photos and memories.

"It's getting very real now, we've known this is happening for four years but it's only now we're thinking 'oh my word!'

"In less than a month's time we're going to be saying goodbye to this place forever - it's hard.

"It's all about taking it in and I'm just very pleased and grateful we can just enjoy and absorb these last three games and not have anything on it. We can properly take it in and just enjoy it - it's going to be an emotional day for a lot of people."

McClean spoke about how his biggest worry is that no final decision has been made as to when Everton's final home game will be played, stopping fans from finalising their plans.

The Toffees are currently due to host Southampton at 15:00 BST on Sunday 18th May, but this is yet to be confirmed, with the television picks for that weekend yet to be decided.

McClean added: "With it being the last game at Goodison Park, surely there should have been some sort of exception where Everton have a say and the correct decision is made for the fans and the club - no one else apart from Everton really care about it being Goodison's last game."

"It's just Everton fans - that should be the only thing coming into consideration. I would've hoped that an exception could have been made and the club could have a say, rather than the TV companies having the final say - so common sense prevails and they do the right thing for the fans, because it doesn't happen enough.

"In this case it's really important, this is generations worth of history - it means a lot and you just want the right thing to happen. We were told the decision was going to be made this week, but we've not heard anything and you just want to know either way so you can make plans."

Listen to the full interview here

Everton are expecting to lose 22-year-old centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, with Manchester United and Tottenham keen. (Sun), external

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Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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When you are a team that have been battling against the threat of relegation for four seasons in a row, the prospect of playing five of the top six teams in the Premier League table in consecutive matches is normally a huge cause for concern.

When those fixtures come in the final quarter of the season, the anxiety levels of the fans is even more heightened, even if it has become par for the course for Everton supporters.

But this season is different. In fact, it is very different.

The past two performances against Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal might not have been anything to get too excited about, but Liverpool are the Premier League champions-in-waiting and on Tuesday night at the Emirates, the Gunners demolished the European champions. Yet, Everton were competitive in both matches.

Earlier in the season they seemingly had to play at the height of their powers to get anything from any game against anybody. David Moyes has turned the tide at Everton in a way that few expected. Even the Blues manager admits to being surprised at how well the players have adapted to his demands and how quickly they have bought into what he requires from them.

Since he was appointed to replace Sean Dyche, his team has lost just just twice in 12 Premier League matches. Those defeats came against Aston Villa and Liverpool, who both competed in the Champions League this season and in Villa's case, still are.

Saturday's fixture at Nottingham Forest looks to be a difficult test. Forest are chasing a place in the Champions League for next season and are a team transformed under the stewardship of Nuno Espirito Santo. They are one of the most defensively disciplined teams in the division and have the ability to counter attack with forceful rapidity.

David Moyes will set up his team resourcefully, despite the squad being short on numbers and lacking the sort of game-changing qualities a lot of the other Premier League teams possess.

Whatever happens at The City Ground on Saturday, Everton fans can bask in the afterglow of the fact that it is April, there are only seven matches remaining in the campaign, but the Toffees are looking up instead of desperately down at the teams below and wondering how many points are required for safety this time.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Former Blues defender Peter Clarke says Goodison Park will "always be the home of Everton" but hopes the move to Bramley-Moore Dock will have a positive impact.

"An incredible place, steeped in history," Clarke said on BBC Radio Merseyside. "Every time I ever played there I loved it - the feeling that you got from the fans.

"I love the fact the supporters were so close to the pitch. With some of the modern stadiums now, fans are a considerable distance from the playing area. I love the fact that they were so close and the atmosphere that created.

"There are not many games left there now and time will probably pass very quickly between now and the end of the season. It will be sad to see it not be the home of the club anymore.

"I think it will always be the home of Everton but the opportunity to move to a new stadium and everything that will bring will hopefully have a really positive impact on things."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Everton forward Youssef Chermiti highlighted Beto and Seamus Coleman as two important figures since his move to the club.

Chermiti and Beto both arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2023 and have developed a strong bond since.

"We are super, super close," Chermiti told the club's matchday programme., external "He has family from Guinea-Bissau and my mother is from Guinea-Bissau, too. We found out that my family over there lives in the same neighbourhood as his family! He is very much like a brother to me.

"We've each had tough moments since we arrived, either with injuries or being out of the team, but he's kept me going and I hope I have helped him, too.

"Right now, I think we are both better for those tough times. It feels like everyone in the squad is happy at the moment.

"If Beto is like a brother, Seamus is like my uncle," Chermiti added. "I speak with him every single day and he's always trying to help me, advise me, push me to be my best.

"I enjoy the relationship we have because maybe we get upset with each other at times but it's because he wants the best out of me. He really believes in me and my future. I have to thank him for everything.

"It goes to show what he's like even this season, when I've been injured, he speaks to me every day about how I'm feeling and about my family and that sort of thing. It's not just football, but life as well. He's a top captain."

Mike Richards
Fan writer

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I will save my official ode to Goodison Park until after our final match there against Southampton, however, it would be remiss of me not to make reference to her as the clock ticks down to zero.

With only three games left to be played at Goodison, Saturday felt like the day when reality hit for many Evertonians.

The increasing number of cameras was evident, with so many eager to capture every given moment.

The glorious weather illuminated all four sides of the ground, with the spring sun seeming to usher in memories of so many childhoods.

For some Evertonians, it would have been the final time they ventured to our home.

The final time they carried out decade-old traditions that are soon to be consigned to their personal memory banks.

St Luke's Church once again became the go-to pre-match venue, with fans from both clubs apparently eager to secure their own slice of Evertonian memorabilia.

Arsenal showed a touch of class with a pre-match presentation to mark their final visit to Goodison Park, something that many previous visiting clubs have seemingly forgotten about.

There was certainly an end-of-season feel to the game itself, with Arsenal's thoughts clearly on their midweek Champions League quarter-final and Everton coasting towards the end of the season.

However, it has been refreshing to be able to enjoy Goodison Park before we do bid our final farewell in May.

No pressure or angst. A chance to simply sit back and take it all in.

The finality of what is about to come is something we will struggle to prepare for.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton have announced player development lead coach Dan Micciche will be leaving the club next month to pursue a new opportunity in the Middle East.

Former Arsenal, Tottenham and MK Dons coach Micciche is the latest off-field member of staff set to leave the club.

Director of football Kevin Thelwell will exit upon the expiry of his contract in the summer, while head of academy recruitment James Vaughan will depart later this month.

In March, Everton announced changes in their executive structure with chief commercial and communications officer Richard Kenyon also leaving.

One senior appointment sees the appointment of Angus Kinnear as their new chief executive, with the Leeds United CEO beginning the role on 1 June.

With eight first-team players out of contract and a further four seeing their loan deals coming to an end, it promises to be a busy summer of recruitment both on and off the pitch.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton manager David Moyes is scheduled to visit the club's new stadium this week - the clearest sign yet that he feels they are safe from relegation.

With Southampton already down and Leicester and Ipswich looking like joining them in the Championship next season, the Toffees are on 35 points, 15 clear of the bottom three with seven games remaining.

Moyes has insisted in recent weeks that 40 points is the target to aim for, saying in March: "I've not been to the new stadium yet because I'm not going to go until I feel as if we are safe."

But after securing a point against Arsenal on Saturday, Moyes will head to Bramley-Moore Dock sometime in the next few days to take a look at the new state-of-the-art venue.

He said after the game: "Mathematically, we are not safe yet but I am hoping to take a visit to the stadium this week, which would indicate that I think we are pretty close.

"I want us to keep getting ready for Premier League football. I know I have got a bit to do and hope I'm not speaking too soon."

Mike Peter
BBC Sport Journalist

The touchlines are tight here, but that wasn't going to stop Mikel Arteta - he still squeezed out of his technical area almost 50% more than opposite number David Moyes.

Anywhere close to the action was Arteta's domain, with his coaches, particularly set-piece lead Nicolas Jover, having to venture out to join him twice as much as Everton's backroom staff had to find Moyes. Jover, just as much an animated presence as his manager, immediately took up position in the very corner of the technical area for any set-piece.

Moyes ventured around his area more freely, often stepping back in his box to discuss matters with his staff, and even taking a seat on the bench - something Arteta never did.

Nor was the dugout the only place the veteran Scot sat down - he was perched on a drinks cooler in the corner of his area when Everton scored their equalising penalty.

See what all the other managers did

Everton and Brighton have joined the race to sign Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 22, whose £40m release clause will become active if Ipswich are relegated from the Premier League. (TeamTalk), external

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Everton striker Armando Broja says "the best is still to come" as he continues his return from an ankle ligament injury.

The Albania striker, who joined Everton on loan from Chelsea last summer, has made three appearances off the bench since being sidelined for three months, but is yet to score.

"I feel much better now," Broja told EvertonTV, external. "I'm happy I can come back on the pitch and play pain-free. That's all I wanted - to be pain-free, to enjoy my football, play in front of the fans and try to do the best for the team.

"I'm 100% sure there's way more to come from me. There's still the best to come from me. There's so much more I can do."

With seven games remaining, including a trip to third-placed Nottingham Forest this weekend, the 23-year-old hopes to make a mark before the end of the season to potentially stake a claim for a permanent move in the summer.

"Every time you step over that white line, it's about giving your all," he said. "No matter where you are, what level you're at, it's always about doing the best for yourself and for the club.

"It's going to be a special run-in. It's a historic moment for the club, being the last season at Goodison."

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

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Terry: It was a poor game but we will take the point and move on. It's going to be a big summer because we need quality all over the pitch, but there's enough good players in the squad to give us a solid base. One more game ticked off. The countdown to the Southampton game is on, which is going to be so emotional.

Mike: An excellent performance from a team with increasing belief made this great result possible. David Moyes has once again built a side that looks greater than the sum of its parts.

Stephen: They battled bravely but the class gap could be seen. Hopefully we spend money in the closed season.

Chris: We have forgotten how to win again! Six games and counting. The early Moyes effect has worn off and we are back to be being an average team, with below average players! A massive rebuild is required in the summer and I'm doubting now if Moyes is the right man to take us forward.

Arsenal fans

Jim: Poor game again. Mikel Arteta's philosophy of not wanting to lose a game just stifles us in trying to win. We will get battered by Real Madrid. I do think his time is nearly up.

Osato: I think Arsenal played well and probably should've won with more goals, but that Everton penalty was a very wrong decision in my opinion. I think the standard of refereeing in the Premier League has been lowered and VAR isn't helping like it is supposed to.

Rachel: It's clear that Arsenal are going to desperately miss Gabriel for the remainder of the season. He is the cheerleader of the team, the backbone, the motivator, the monster defender and the one we can least afford to lose out of everyone. I think we'll struggle to win another game without him. He is the beating heart of Arsenal and a massive loss.

Simon: Arsenal have clearly thrown in the towel on winning the Premier League. They are just not clinical enough and are lacking the hunger to be champions.

Everton have spoken to the representatives of Freiburg's 22-year-old Germany midfielder Merlin Rohl over a potential move. (Kicker - in German), external

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Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Brighton

• Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest

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Everton winger Jack Harrison has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside following the draw at Goodison Park: "I think it's obviously good to get a point against Arsenal, one of the top teams in the league. A lot of us feel frustrated and maybe we feel we could've come away with a win, especially at home and the way the game was going at the end of the second half.

"It was a bit of a frustrating start but being able to come away with a point against Arsenal is always good for us. We just have to crack on now, we have a lot of room for improvement.

"Against a team like Arsenal, it is always going to be tougher for us attacking players. There was a lot of defending involved and so sticking together as a team is really important.

"In the second half, I felt we were able to do that and just hold them to one goal. But, at the same time, we need to try and get up the other side of the pitch and do our best to attack.

"So we created a couple of chances but we would have liked to have improved in that aspect a little bit today."

On the penalty: "I felt like it was a penalty straightaway. I tried to read the flight of the ball, going on the other side of the defender, and he brought me down from that angle.

"I got up straightaway to try and carry on playing, because you never know with VAR, but the referee had already blown the whistle and called a penalty so that was it."

On his aims for the rest of the season: "I want to try and add more goals and assists. I want to contribute as much as I can to this club. It's been amazing being here, I know it's just on loan but hopefully we can see what happens going forward.

"I just want to continue my growth as a player and contribute as much as I can to this amazing club."

Listen to the full post-match interview on BBC Sounds