Everton fans have been through turbulent times – deductions of points, change of ownership, and unceremonious change of managers, but the 2025-26 season comes with all indications that the Toffees will be firmly rooted.
It is not merely a question of sentiment: will Everton be able to turn a better beginning into an end in the top 10 of the Premier League? This is a realistic examination of the variables that will determine whether Everton can ascend back to the higher segment of the table.
Where Everton stand right now
Following a challenging campaign in 2024-25 that saw the club finish in 13th place, Everton has been undergoing a major managerial change with David Moyes returning in January 2025 to put the ship back on course. The last stand of that season was one of inconsistency and assault, which was usually not cutting-edge.
Forward to the first few weeks of 2025-26, and Everton have started their season well: they were sitting in the top 10 of the early table courtesy of impressive results. Recent results have Everton in the upper half following a few matches, and this is an indication that the team can compete with the mid and top teams once the team is on its toes. Up next, they face their fiercest rivals and table-toppers Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season. Bettors can check out the markets for Premier League predictions this week courtesy of Sportytrader, one of the most trusted game analysts.
Why Everton can end up in the top 10
- Stability and experience of the manager: The stability of David Moyes and the fact that he is familiar with the club and the survival mechanisms of the Premier League make his return a good choice. His pragmatic nature has the ability to churn out results, especially in a tight match. The steadiness that Moyes can offer is an underestimated resource of a club that is regaining confidence.
- Better team depth and realistic business: Everton’s summer 2025 transfer window was closed with carefully planned additions and certain key academy promotions to provide Moyes with better options on the pitch. The risk of a mid-season shortage of the squad is minimized with the help of a cleaner and more efficient recruitment window, which also gives the opportunity to act tactically.
- Favorable season first-mover: Unbeaten streaks and great protection have provided a platform on which outcomes are self-affirming. Those teams that begin the campaign with greater momentum tend to transfer that forward into better league positions, as long as the club does not experience a fall at the end of the season. The recent games show a positive attitude of the squad and a series of clean sheets, which proves the point.
Two key challenges that Everton must fight
- Goal-scoring consistency: Everton has demonstrated that goal-scoring has not been an issue, yet using opportunities to get a goal has been a challenge. The only way the club will be able to achieve a top-10 push is to avoid drawing as many games until it can identify reliable match-winners or enhance its finishing. The last few fixtures have continuously indicated the absence of clinical superiority in the attack.
- Squad restrictions and registration anomalies: In 2025-26, Everton will be able to register up to 25 senior squad places, but that number is below the maximum 25-man squad registered, which might impair rotation options in busy schedules or bouts of injuries. Depth will be tried during the times of autumn and winter.
To ensure a top-10 finish, Everton will have to:
- Win at home and play better in away games that can be won.
- Keep star players in shape and keep shape through defensive lines to keep a consistent points output.
- Add a clinical forward in January in case of the goal drought, one striker, capable of scoring 10 or more league goals, sometimes is the difference between 12th and top 10.
One realistic goal for Everton would be 1.45-1.55 points per game over the course of the season; that will put the club in the 8th-12th position in the past few years. That is an achievable, although not an unguaranteed, goal of the club because of the style of management by Moyes and the club’s business in the summer.
Fan Expectations vs Reality
It is inherent that Evertonians desire European nights; however, their realistic outcomes need to be centered on squad harmony and gradual advancement. A top-10 finish would be a real improvement following the upheaval of the recent past – a platform on which the club can project itself to greater heights.
Bottom Line
Yes, and the answer is that Everton can well hope to get back into the top 10 this season, although it will take consistency of defense, more effective attacking performance, and wise squad management over a long season. The first indications at the start of the season with David Moyes and the recruitment of the club give the fans grounds to be optimistic, but the main challenge is to attain and sustain the consistency to enable the club to have a top-10 finish. Provided that Everton can turn momentum into results as well as close a goals gap, a top-half finish becomes a possibility.