Everton have maintained their unbeaten record across five Premier League matches and two Carabao Cup victories, climbing to fifth place with nine points from their opening month. Manager David Moyes secured a 1-0 home win against Ipswich Town on the back of Thierno Barry's 11th-minute strike, but he remains focused on incremental improvement rather than ambitious targets.
The Toffees' cautious approach reflects painful lessons from the previous campaign. After a 3-0 victory over Chelsea in March left them eighth and within touching distance of Champions League qualification, Everton collapsed spectacularly. Seven consecutive defeats without a win saw them tumble to 13th place, finishing four points adrift of Brighton—who qualified for the Conference League—and five behind Sunderland, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace, all of whom secured Europa League spots. That collapse has shaped Moyes' mindset entirely.
We are not using those words this yearMoyes stated bluntly when asked about European ambitions, signalling his determination to avoid the trap of premature optimism. When pressed on whether he had challenged his squad to target continental football, he elaborated:
Not [saying] in front of you people [the media], that's for sure, because we're still preparing ourselves and make sure we can do the best we can.
The manager acknowledged his own role in last season's false dawn.
I enjoyed saying the words last year. If you think of what we had done, been relegation material when we came in January [2025], got out and won the games, 12/13 new players had to come in... But the players had done so well, I started to believe that we had a real chance, and it allowed me to be like that.That belief, however justified by events at the time, ultimately proved costly.
How has Everton's defence become their foundation?
Everton's unbeaten start has been built on defensive solidity. The club has recorded five clean sheets across seven matches in all competitions, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford anchoring a well-organised backline. This defensive resilience has allowed them to grind out results even when their attacking play has misfired, a characteristic typical of Moyes' tactical approach.
The strength at the back becomes even more significant given the upheaval in attacking areas. Beto departed to Fiorentina on transfer deadline day, while key attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye joined Manchester City on the same date, leaving Barry as the only recognised senior striker at the club. According to , Moyes described Everton as carrying a
real small squadafter a disappointing summer transfer window, with a deadline-day striker move collapsing.
Pickford reflected on the importance of defensive discipline.
You have to dig in, that's the Everton way. We are building momentum and we will be focused and ready to go when we come back. It was a great way to finish the week off.
Why is Moyes frustrated despite the unbeaten record?
Despite praising his players' resilience, Moyes expressed clear dissatisfaction with their attacking output. Against Ipswich, Everton registered 21 shots but managed only two on target—a conversion rate that troubles the manager deeply.
The players get huge credit to get to this point, unbeaten in five games. It's really good, but I'm expecting them to do this. If we're thinking 'we're doing a great job because we've gone a few games', no, the manager expects that. I'm actually more disappointed that we aren't scoring more goals.
Moyes outlined specific areas requiring improvement:
I'm rapping them like you wouldn't believe - why are we not getting better crosses into the box, better finishes, shooting from the edge of the box, not scoring more? That's the only thing we're missing from being a half-decent side.The manager's frustration stems from a belief that marginal gains in finishing could transform their position from solid to genuinely threatening.
Barry, who scored just eight times last season, has already netted five goals this campaign—two in the Premier League and a hat-trick in Everton's 4-0 Carabao Cup demolition of Preston. Pickford credited the striker's work ethic.
He works hard and the goals will come from working hard. The first year in the Premier League is always tough. He has found his feet and he has started a lot better this year.
How does Moyes view Everton's progress since January 2025?
When Moyes returned for his second spell in charge in January 2025, Everton occupied 16th place, just one point clear of the relegation zone. The turnaround since then has been substantial, yet the manager remains defensive about external criticism of that period.
I heard a lot of things [said] that last year was not so good and I thought 'my goodness, I don't know what the people are talking or writing about because it's absolute baloney'. It was fantastic what we did and we came so close to doing something that would have been incredibly special after no money, being on the verge of relegation, moving to a new stadium - and it has never been an easy job for anyone moving to a new stadium - so we came really close.
Notably, according to a national broadcaster's report, Moyes revealed he has
never met or spoken toowner Dan Friedkin since his appointment in January 2025, a detail that underscores the distance between management and ownership at the club.
What do analysts make of Everton's prospects?
Former England midfielder and pundit Danny Murphy offered a measured assessment of Everton's unbeaten status.
Nothing surprises me with a David Moyes side. They're so well organised, so well motivated and always dangerous when their backs are against the wall. There's been a lot of discontent among the fanbase regarding the owners and a transfer policy that left themselves short in forward areas.
Murphy highlighted the balance within the squad despite its thinness.
But the rest of the side is so well balanced, they all know their jobs, they know what they're doing and that backline with the keeper behind it is really solid. So, I never thought it was a catastrophe that they didn't get a striker in. Because they're so well organised and defensively so good, they're always going to nick results when they're not playing well. I do understand the fans' frustration, but I didn't think for a second they'd be in any danger because they didn't get cover in for their forwards. It is a thin squad, but they've still got quality.
One of only five Premier League sides remaining unbeaten, Everton have also progressed in the Carabao Cup, securing a home last-16 tie against Newcastle. However, the international break means their league campaign resumes on 11 October 2026 with an away fixture at Hull City.
What lies ahead for Everton?
Everton's fixture schedule intensifies upon their return from the international break. According to ESPN, the Toffees face Hull City away on 11 October 2026, followed by a home match against Chelsea on 17 October and an away trip to Arsenal on 24 October. The Carabao Cup home tie against Newcastle is scheduled for 29 October 2026.
Moyes has indicated that Everton remain active in the transfer market. According to The Athletic, the manager stated on 4 September that Everton were still exploring the free-agent market to address their striker shortage, though no permanent solution has yet materialised. The challenge for Moyes will be maintaining Everton's defensive discipline and unbeaten record while gradually improving their attacking efficiency—a balance that will determine whether this season's cautious optimism proves justified or merely another false dawn.
