Everton were one point clear of the Premier League relegation zone. They had just three wins in 19 matches. Everton were in a perilous position when David Moyes was reappointed as manager on 11 January. A little over a month later, Everton are suddenly the in-form team in the top flight.
Saturday’s victory at Crystal Palace means Moyes has picked up 13 points since returning to Goodison Park. No team has secured more in that time (Arsenal are also on 13). The Scot has won four out of six league matches. This is more than his predecessor Sean Dyche managed in the 19 games before his dismissal.
Looking at the results and games in the latter stages of Sean Dyche, you find some interesting outcomes. There are draws against Arsenal, Man City, and Chelsea. Not at all easy games and the fixture list can often help you when you are in heavy struggles. Dyche then had to leave his post after defeats to Forest and Bournemouth. Both teams were in heavy form at the moment. They were very difficult games on paper.
Since David Moyes' return, no @premierleague team has picked up more points than the Toffees' tally of 13.
— Everton (@Everton) February 16, 2025
BOSS. 💙 pic.twitter.com/HtelbInY01
Beto has been doing his job properly with Broja and Calvert-Levein sidelined. The results vs. Liverpool and Crystal Palace are great. That should not be faulted. However, the season is a long one. There are difficult games coming up.
Beto had just scored 1 goal before he was given his run. He has 4 goals after the arrival of David Moyes. With him being the only solution and with Broja and Calvert-Levein back in business, you never know who to play.
That improvement is impressive. A personnel crisis left them without nine first-team players against Palace. This included Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye, and the suspended Abdoulaye Doucoure. Doucoure missed the trip to London due to his celebrations in front of Liverpool supporters. These actions led to him being shown a red card at the end of Wednesday’s dramatic Merseyside derby draw.
“Since the manager has come in we have definitely improved,” defender James Tarkowski told Sky Sports. “Winning and scoring goals brings [the belief] back.
“We were low on numbers today. We had all the emotions of Wednesday, but we stuck at it. We got the win.”
When asked to shed light on Everton’s upturn in form, Moyes said: “I don’t know if there’s any secret. Sometimes in football you’re given opportunities and you have to take your chance.
“There’s a much better togetherness with the supporters and the players. This is certainly a club which thrives off its support.
“Hopefully we’re getting them all back on side again.”
In-form Beto firing when it matters. No player epitomises the Toffees’ improvement quite like Beto, who continued his fine form with another goal at Selhurst Park. The Guinea-Bissau striker’s opener in south London was his fourth goal in three league games. This matches the total he managed in 42 matches under Dyche.
The 27-year-old joined Everton from Udinese in August 2023. The fee was reportedly worth up to £30m. However, he scored only three goals in 30 top-flight appearances. He struggled to adjust to life in England. Beto opened his account for the 2024-25 campaign in a 1-1 draw with Fulham in October. He then went nine league games without a goal. Earlier this month, he netted a double at home to Leicester City.
He sent Goodison Park wild with a calmly taken opener in the derby. He then opened the scoring at Palace with a similarly composed finish. Calvert-Lewin is out for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury. Beto could hardly have picked a better time to hit a purple patch.
“What a week it has been,” Beto said in an interview with Match of the Day. “I’m happy to score, [as] last season I wasn’t so confident. Now I feel all my training is paying off. All my mental work is showing results. All the work I do with my team-mates is making a difference. I believe that I belong in the Premier League and I’m a Premier League player.”
His goalscoring exploits have delighted his manager, who believes the striker is still “getting better” as Everton climb the table. “His chances have come through injuries [to other players],” Moyes said. “He probably saw a chance to play half a dozen games or so. “It was down to him to show if he was capable. I’m really pleased for him.”
Everton’s league results since Moyes’ return
15 January: Everton 0-1 Aston Villa, 19 January: Everton 3-2 Tottenham, 25 January: Brighton 0-1 Everton, 1 February: Everton 4-0 Leicester, 12 February: Everton 2-2 Liverpool, 15 February: Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton
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