Everton’s 2026/27 Premier League season begins at home against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with supporters’ panel members offering their thoughts ahead of the campaign launch at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
David Moyes’ side completed pre-season with a victory over Newcastle United and a draw with French club Lille, despite inconsistent results throughout the build-up. Several new faces have arrived including Hayden Hackney, Merlin Rohl, Brennan Johnson, Tyrique George and Christian Norgaard, though Moyes has indicated significant recruitment work remains.
Paul McParlan
The club’s late-season collapse still haunts supporters, with a seventh-placed position squandered through defeats in the final 135 minutes of the campaign, resulting in a 13th-place finish. While many anticipated high-profile summer signings, Moyes’ admission that the squad remains well short of expectations has dampened optimism for some followers.
However, there are grounds for cautious optimism. The core squad has been retained, and recent acquisitions bring valuable qualities. Norgaard offers experience and leadership, Hackney could prove an excellent addition, George possesses pace and skill to trouble opponents, and Johnson adds directness and goalscoring ability to the attack.
Youngsters including Tyler Dibling, Harrison Armstrong, Merlin Rohl and Adam Aznou appear ready to compete for starting positions. Thierno Barry struggled in his first Premier League campaign at age 23 but has shown promise during pre-season and may progress significantly this term.
Jarrad Branthwaite’s availability throughout pre-season represents a major boost, as his injury absence last spring derailed European ambitions. The defence requires addressing at right-back and possibly in attack, while potential Grealish involvement would lift spirits before the transfer deadline.
Objectives must include European qualification, cup runs and improved home results, particularly in local derbies. The squad appears stronger than twelve months prior, younger players have developed, and key areas have been strengthened around an exceptional goalkeeper under an experienced manager.
James Kellett
With the novelty of Hill Dickinson Stadium fading, questions emerge about whether this squad can justify its world-class surroundings. Despite a disappointing conclusion to the previous campaign, indicators suggest potential for Premier League progress. The persistent failure to recruit a right-back represents a significant shortcoming, with no apparent successor identified for departing club legend Seamus Coleman despite repeated transfer windows.
The squad will likely begin matches without a natural right-back option, undermining competitive ambitions. However, pre-season displays from talents like Dibling, Aznou and George highlight considerable promise, and supporters hope the manager maximises this youthful quality. Branthwaite’s full pre-season participation offers the best opportunity to establish himself as the defensive cornerstone.
His injury during last season’s Merseyside derby reversal transformed the campaign’s trajectory, so fitness restoration becomes crucial. While April and May setbacks have tested supporter faith, additions to the squad provide encouragement, and continued recruitment could silence critics and overcome previous difficulties.
Mark McParlan
Positive pre-season conclusions have eased concerns, with an impressive victory against Newcastle and a strong display against Lille, who recently finished third in France’s top division.
Squad depth appears adequate with four centre-halves and eight central midfielders including James Garner, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Norgaard, Hackney, Tim Iroegbunam, Charly Alcaraz, Rohl and Armstrong. Four wide attackers now exist following Johnson’s and George’s arrivals joining Iliman Ndiaye and Dibling, while Angus Kinnear has suggested continued pursuit of Grealish.
Full-back positions remain problematic. Vitalii Mykolenko has struggled badly during pre-season and has not demonstrated improvement since 2022, yet the club rewarded him with a three-year contract extension in June. The experiment using Jake O’Brien at right-back must end, having become farcical even involving political figures. Question marks exist over whether Rohl might face similar issues in an unfamiliar position, as players deployed out of position typically struggle across demanding Premier League campaigns.
Once more, season outcomes may depend on Branthwaite’s condition. His defensive quality enables aggressive pressing and ball-carrying from deep positions.
Securing a quality full-back alongside potential Grealish capture would allow Moyes to focus on managerial duties. Minimum requirements involve bettering last season’s position, with European qualification or cup final appearance as realistic targets. Concerns exist that uncertainty surrounding Moyes’ contract, with less than a year remaining, might encourage overly cautious tactics and reduced cup commitment.
While entering the campaign with hopeful expectations, concerns persist about another fruitless season. The starting lineup has not demonstrably improved from twelve months prior, and rotation may not maximise squad potential. Nevertheless, the opening fixture should establish positive momentum through three points and an encouraging performance against Palace, generating early-season support for manager and players.