Last season was a tumultuous one for Everton. Will they avoid relegation to the Championship again?
As the new season approaches, fans are keenly watching the EPL winner odds, but the other end of the spectrum seems to be more of a concern for Everton.
⚡My quick betting tip
⚽ Everton last season overview
Last season was a rollercoaster ride for Everton, who were initially deducted 10 points for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. That punishment was later reduced to six points on appeal, but a second breach of those financial regulations saw Everton hit with a two-points penalty.
Despite all that, Sean Dyche’s side stayed up pretty comfortably, finishing 14 points clear of the drop zone. Had they not been deducted any points, Everton would have ended the campaign in 12th. But they are not out of the woods yet. Farhad Moshiri has been unable to sell the club, leaving Everton in ownership limbo. That issue needs to be sorted as quickly as possible.
⚽ Everton manager
Dyche has long felt like a good fit for Everton. He steered them clear of the drop zone after taking charge midway through the previous campaign, before once again keeping the club afloat in the Premier League in difficult circumstances last term. His brand of football is not to everyone’s taste, but his non-negotiable principles of sweat and graft work well at Goodison Park.
“I have to find a way to win,” he said last season. “The biggest judgment here so far is winning. This is not a time for style, this is a time to win. I have always said I am trying to get a base to work from. If you get that, and the club is in better health and better shape, then you can start developing styles.”
⚽ Everton transfers
The Toffees have waved goodbye to Amadou Onana, who has joined Aston Villa in a deal worth £50m. Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey have also left on permanent deals, joining Villa and, Atalanta respectively. Andre Gomes and Dele Alli were released at the end of their contracts, although the latter has still been training with the club as he aims to bag a new deal.
Everton have captured Tim Iroegbunam, Jake O’Brien and Iliman Ndiaye for a combined £40m, while Jack Harrison is back on loan and Jesper Lindstrom has also moved to Goodison on a season-long deal. Dyche will hope for more new arrivals before the window closes, but Everton have at least managed to retain Jarrad Branthwaite for now.
⚽ Everton objective for the season
The first objective is to get new owners in. Moshiri is unpopular at Goodison and he is willing to sell the club, but a deal still looks to be a few weeks away at the earliest. That disrupts Everton’s planning for the new season, not least in the transfer market.
Survival is the primary objective once again, although Dyche will privately believe his team can push on towards mid-table given their record last season. Europe is a pipe dream for now, though. Everton regularly mixed it with the top six at one point, but that is not the position the club is in right now.
⚽ Everton strengths
Everton’s defence was solid last season. Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool conceded fewer goals, while the Toffees also ranked well for expected goals against. Dyche’s team were tough to break down and they will be looking to maintain that sort of resolve at the back in 2024/25.
Everton were also strong from set-pieces. They tended to send the ball into the penalty area whenever they could, even if that meant Jordan Pickford taking free-kicks from inside his own half. With Branthwaite, James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all proficient in the air, Everton created plenty of chances from dead-ball situations.
⚽ Everton weaknesses
Everton’s weaknesses are the opposite of their strengths. They were defensively robust throughout last season, but scoring goals was a real problem. Only Sheffield United, who went down in last place, put the ball in the back of the net less often than Dyche’s team. That is something Everton need to address.
And for as useful as they were from set-pieces, Everton were as poor in open play. They struggled to fashion chances for much of the season, with Dyche’s brand of football blamed by many. In fairness to the manager, Everton were often wasteful in the final third: the expected goals data suggested they should have scored 14 more times than they did.
Finally, this is scheduled to be Everton’s final season at Goodison. They were not as successful as they hoped to be at home last season, so the Toffees could do with making their old ground a fortress again.
💰 What do I bet on?
Everton to stay up at 4/9 with bet365. Without any points penalties (probably) this season, the Toffees should be able to keep their heads above water again. The Toffees have not been relegated for 73 years.
Other Premier League club overviews
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
News Summary:
- Everton 2024/25 EPL betting tips: What to expect from the betting markets?
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.