Everton remain in the hunt for European football next season ahead of their final home game of the season against Sunderland on Sunday afternoon
Everton manager David Moyes and his players look dejected after the Premier League match with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 4, 2026(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Pat Nevin believes European football next season would destroy Everton the way it has destroyed Newcastle United’s current campaign. Last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace saw the Blues lose fresh ground in their bid to secure a European qualification place for next season.
However, heading into tomorrow afternoon’s clash against Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium, David Moyes’ side still have a chance of finishing in the top eight. Not only would they need to win their two remaining games, but the Blues would also need other results to go their way.
But Nevin, speaking via Grosvenor Casinos, doesn’t believe Everton have a big enough squad to compete domestically and in Europe despite Moyes’ ongoing desire to take Everton into continental competition.
OPINION
He said: “The difficulty for me talking about Everton and David Moyes is that I’m so utterly biased! I’m so excited that David’s back.
“Again, he’s a friend, somebody I’ve known since I was 14. The honesty and the honour of the guy is brilliant. He is completely Mr. Everton.
“But what he’s done in such a short period of time to turn Everton from a club that was fighting against relegation by their fingertips every season to a team where they can actually see flourish is remarkable.
“Dave’s not been in there long. He’s not had the actual time to build on what was there too much. Management and business in general is about getting the best out of the people working underneath you. He does that. Everyone respects him.
David Moyes (left) speaks to Pep Guardiola during Everton’s match against Manchester City(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
“Now they’ve got a new stadium, which as a watching experience is up there with Spurs. You’ve got the numbers in there as well, so that helps with the finances.
“But the most important thing is to look at what he’s got out of the team. And David’s now actually doing what he’s always wanted to do, which is to be more offensive.
“You’ve got Ndiaye, you’ve got Jack Grealish, you’ve got really good players in that area. I love Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. He’s a right good player who was doing nothing at Chelsea.
FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page
“He was wasted at Stamford Bridge, but Everton are getting the best out of him. But this is just a start as far as I can see with Everton.
“But with regard to Everton and Europe; I’m not sure that European football is good for Everton yet. They’re not ready. They’ve not got a big enough squad.
“European football will destroy them the way it’s destroyed Newcastle. They need to build up the squad before they can do that.
“I’ve watched it happen too often. Newcastle is the best example of that. You just need two or three or four injuries and that’s it.”
