Everton find themselves in a precarious position following a disappointing home defeat to Aston Villa, with Ollie Watkins' solitary goal leaving the club dangerously close to the relegation zone. The Guardian reports that manager David Moyes, who has returned to the club after a lengthy absence, faces the critical challenge of ensuring Everton's survival in the Premier League. Should he succeed, he may well receive an even warmer welcome when the club transitions to its new stadium.
Watkins' goal not only dashed any hopes of a triumphant return for Moyes but also plunged Everton into a state of anxiety as they keep a watchful eye on the performances of teams below them in the league. For the second consecutive season, their hopes of survival may hinge on the misfortunes of three other struggling sides.
Aston Villa, deserving of their victory, could have extended their lead significantly had they capitalised on their first-half opportunities. Everton's vulnerabilities were starkly evident, with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez rarely called into action throughout the match. Despite Moyes' arrival, the club continues to grapple with persistent issues, particularly their lack of attacking threat, which underscores the squad's current predicament. Concerns raised during Moyes' unveiling were particularly focused on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose goal-scoring form has markedly declined since 2020. With the club's financial situation showing signs of stabilisation, the urgency to recruit new talent is becoming increasingly pressing.
From the sidelines, a frustrated voice called out, "Come on Davie. Do something, lad," as Everton's midfielders resorted to desperate long balls in a bid to find an equaliser. Calvert-Lewin's missed opportunity in injury time, from mere yards out, epitomised his ongoing struggles.
Moyes must now explore innovative strategies to turn the club's fortunes around, relying on support from the club's ownership and, ideally, financial backing. However, with relegation looming, divine intervention may also be required, particularly if Ipswich Town begins to find their form.
Upon his return to Goodison Park, Moyes encountered a sense of hope for stability, but the challenges ahead are formidable. This marks his second attempt to rescue Everton, 23 years after his first stint, and it will demand all of his navigational skills. At least he can take comfort in knowing that there is a collective desire among stakeholders to achieve a common goal.
Had the Friedkin Group opted not to replace Sean Dyche, the situation could have deteriorated further, with fans expressing discontent towards both the team and management. Moyes’ appointment has fostered a sense of unity, contingent upon the players stepping up to lift the club out of the relegation battle.
In his initial days as manager, Moyes has been evaluating the remnants of the squad he once oversaw. Dyche’s parting words were notably optimistic, stating, "The right time has come to leave the club, with the team in good shape." However, the validity of that assertion is questionable, as the current Everton team is markedly different from the side Moyes once guided to European qualification.
In quieter moments, Moyes may reflect on the midfield creativity once provided by Mikel Arteta and the attacking prowess of Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar, alongside the goal-scoring talent of Tim Cahill. Like his predecessors, Moyes must rely on Calvert-Lewin to rediscover his scoring touch—a striker currently lacking confidence and whose focus may already be drifting towards the end of the season when his contract expires.
Calvert-Lewin came close to scoring in what would have marked Moyes’ first goal in charge, shooting across Martinez in the 27th minute, but failed to convert another opportunity just before half-time. Ultimately, there was little to suggest that this Everton team differs significantly from Dyche’s, aside from a few tactical tweaks.
The squad's limitations cannot be rectified in a matter of days. The full-backs remain ineffective in attack, the midfielders are industrious yet lack creativity, and the wingers’ inconsistency continues to frustrate fans.
As for Villa, they may have felt they chose an unfortunate time to visit Goodison Park, given the recent shift in atmosphere from despair to cautious optimism. They could have settled early nerves within five minutes, with former Everton midfielder Amadou Onana’s long-range shot deflecting wide, and the impressive Morgan Rogers forcing a save from Jordan Pickford.
The best chance of a scrappy first half fell to Watkins, who seized on a careless backpass from Ashley Young but shot wide. Jacob Ramsey also wasted a chance just before the break from the edge of the area. Both players made amends early in the second half, with Watkins scoring after being set up by Ramsey, who capitalised on a defensive lapse by Jarrad Branthwaite.
From that moment, Villa adopted a patient approach, forcing Everton to seek creativity that is simply absent from their ranks. As the match progressed, Unai Emery’s strategy of allowing Everton’s midfielders time on the ball only increased the likelihood of them losing possession and inviting counter-attacks.
It wasn’t until injury time that Everton managed their first shot on target in the second half, but Calvert-Lewin fired over just moments later when a point seemed within reach. Ultimately, there was no respite for Everton in this match, and the task of preserving their season is becoming increasingly daunting.