Everton

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Coventry City at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jarrad Branthwaite is being "nursed along a little bit" after being forced off with cramp in Monday's 1-0 victory over Newcastle United. It is unclear if he will feature this weekend.

• Jack Grealish "won't be available" but Everton intend on "working with him again soon". When asked if the international break will be a good opportunity to resolve the situation, Moyes replied: "We will see. We need to wait and see how things go."

• On equalling Harry Catterick's record and taking charge of his 592nd game as Everton manager against Coventry: "I got told about this a few weeks ago. I hadn't realised I was that close. I'm very proud to be up there and talked about in the same breath as him. I wish I had the trophies he had to go with it, though!"

• The team deserve "great praise" for their start to the season, "especially after everything that went on in the summer", but it is "very hard to judge the league standings" right now so the collective aim is to "just get as many points on the board as possible".

• He said he anticipates a "really difficult" and "interesting" game against Coventry, who have had "some really good results" recently and picked up nine points in their past five league games.

• Frank Lampard managed Everton "through a really difficult period" between January 2022 and January 2023, but he has proven he is a "really good manager" during his time at CBS Arena.

• On Thierno Barry equalling his eight-goal tally from last season in just 12 appearances: "He is settling down. I know it sounds like an excuse but we took a gamble in buying him, knowing that he probably wouldn't be right straightaway. It isn't all right at the minute, but Erling Haaland should be worried because he is just behind him now! Let's hope he can keep scoring and keep improving for us."

• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall "certainly must be knocking on the door" for a maiden England call-up, but Thomas Tuchel also has "so many good players to choose from" in his position.

• Moyes added: "We will be pleased for him to be recognised for England so long as he keeps doing well for Everton. He has come from a couple of clubs that have recently won trophies and achieved success, so he has an idea of what that feels like which is really important for us in our mission to get back into Europe."

• Lastly, when asked if there is a plan in place for the January transfer window, he replied: "No, at the moment there are no plans."

Hit play above to watch a clip of Moyes or listen to more on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Everton fan Matt Dillon says fans have a "lot to be positive about" and it remains clear where David Moyes must strengthen as the Toffees look to build on a fine start to the season.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Dillon said: "Obviously we are short on numbers but, for me, we are certainly not short on quality. I think there are players there and they have shown it.

"They showed it last season and the players that have come in this season, there is real quality there. I think everyone, not just Evertonians, I think people from the outside who watch Everton regularly know where we need to strengthen in terms of the squad.

"The lads that are out there every week, you can't knock them for effort and in terms of the way we set up, I think we are really solid."

"I think there's a really good core there to be taken on. You look at the league now, we're seventh. We could go into the top four or five on Friday against Coventry. You look at what's going on in the League Cup as well, there's a lot to be positive about."

Listen to the full chat by pressing play above or on BBC Sounds here

Everton are eyeing 21-year-old Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque, who is expected to have a price tag of around £42m. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on whether Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall should be called up to the England squad for this November's international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Paul: Dewsbury-Hall definitely deserves a chance. From a selfish perspective it would be good for him to have a two week rest rather than risk an injury, but he would really benefit being around the England camp. There are maybe others who will get the nod ahead of him but the experience can only benefit him and England and he has earned his chance!

Anton: I absolutely agree and think that he should receive a call-up. He genuinely is an excellent player and person in everything he does. His technical ability is beyond reproach, his personality and character are beyond exemplary - he just seems to be an all-round nice guy who happens to be an excellent footballer. I would love to see him played deeper too (both for us and England) because he really is capable of influencing play all over the pitch but that can leave our sole striker isolated.

Alex: Normally, I think he just misses out, but with Eze and Gibbs-White off form, this is a real chance for KDH to get a chance under Tuchel.

Thomas: I don't think he really moves the needle for England. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a great player and he would be a solid squad option for Tuchel, but they could equally live without him just fine.

Peter: Selfishly, I would prefer him to rest during the international break and be extra motivated to prove to Tuchel he is good enough to play, not just sit on a bench. Garner needs a break too to fully recover from hernia surgery. Both are key players for Everton in every game. Branthwaite should be called up . He should be centre-back for England for the next 20 years!

Hit play below to hear Everton fans Chris Wardle and Peter MacFarlane talk about the strength Dewsbury-Hall adds to the squad, or listen here on BBC Sounds.

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A lot was made after the deadline day debacle that left Everton with just 18 outfield players, but maybe it is more a case of the saying - 'small but perfectly formed'.

Aside from the defeats by Chelsea and Arsenal, the Toffees are battling against all their critics as well as their opponents to sit seventh, and could go into the top four if they beat Coventry at home on Friday evening.

While David Moyes would no doubt have wanted three or four more in his set-up, the players he has at his disposal have qualities that means his side are tough to beat.

Captain James Tarkowski is having his best season in an Everton shirt, leading by example.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is rightly being touted as someone who should be in the England squad due to be announced later this week, while Thierno Barry has defied many who wrote him off having scored eight goals so far - the number he got in the whole of the last campaign.

Despite the dramatic 24 hours that almost saw him sold in the summer, Harrison Armstrong has started every Premier League game at just 19-years-old, and Tyrique George has been exciting many on the left wing to a level that means Jack Grealish has not been missed.

Everton are also set to face League Two Fleetwood Town in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, a competition they have never won.

Right now, there might not be a long list of names on the squad list, but it has increased the togetherness and brought about a positive feeling and mentality that might have been lost if the manager had a huge dressing room.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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"All I'm giving out is that he is unavailable at the moment."

Those were the words of Everton boss David Moyes when he was asked about Jack Grealish's exclusion from the Toffees' team in the 1-0 victory against Newcastle.

On the latest developments, BBC Radio Merseyside reporter Giulia Bould said: "We are led to believe that Manchester City are in these conversations that are going on with Jack Grealish at Everton right now.

"The fact he is not even in the squad - the cup game [against Newcastle] we were told it was for discipline reasons.

"Now he is not fit, so he is evidently not been in training sessions.

"Whether that is part of the suspension as well, would you not put him in the under-21s if you wanted to discipline him, but keep his fitness?

"To me, this suggests there is a bigger issue around Grealish. It is concerning because he seems a good person.

"He is clearly a talented footballer to get where he has been in his career, but the amount of money he is on for a loan deal, I am surprised that the loan hasn't been cut short if there is this bigger problem."

Press play above or listen to more on the latest Toffees Unwrapped podcast on BBC Sounds here

Minnesota United's 26-year-old forward Kelvin Yeboah - nephew of Leeds United and Ghana hero Tony Yeboah - is on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs, with Everton, Crystal Palace and Sunderland all in the market for a striker. (Talksport), external

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BBC Radio Merseyside's Giulia Bould and Phil Munns have joined James Tarkowski in backing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for a "deserved" international call-up.

England boss Thomas Tuchel is set to announce his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain on Friday, 6 November.

"I would like to see Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall given that opportunity," Bould said on the latest episode of Toffees Unwrapped. "He had a slow start to the season, granted, but he has really found his feet now.

"He is such a leader. I like the way he speaks, his leadership, his distribution on the pitch, the way he hasn't ever sulked, the way he put his hands up at the start of this season.

"I just feel he deserves an England call-up. Let us just see what he can do!"

David Moyes used his post-match interviews after Everton's 1-0 win over Newcastle United to put forward Dewsbury-Hall's case for recognition at senior international level.

"He does deserve an England call-up," Munns added. "The problem is England have got a big embarrassment of riches in their midfield.

"Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tends to play in the number 10 or a bit further forward for Everton, but I wonder if there might be a place for him a little bit deeper in England's midfield.

"He has often said that he sees himself as more of a box-to-box midfielder, playing as more of a number eight rather than a number 10.

"His versatility perhaps shows he is worth having a look at. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Thomas Tuchel puts him in his squad, like he did with James Garner, just to have a look at him and test him out in a couple of places."

Listen to the full podcast below or listen on BBC Sounds

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Everton captain James Tarkowski believes "top level" team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall should have already received a senior international call-up, after consistently turning down the option to play for the Republic of Ireland over England.

"I see myself as English and have it in my head that I can play for England," Dewsbury-Hall told Everton's club channels in December 2025. "I just want to give myself a chance to play for England, which is a lifelong dream. I believe I can do it."

The attacking midfielder has been a standout performer for Everton this season, having scored two goals and registered two assists across 12 appearances in all competitions.

"I don't really like praising him because he tells me how good he is all the time anyway!" Tarkowski told Everton's club channels, external. "No, honestly, he is top level.

"He has sort of developed a confidence now where he wants to be the one to make the difference all the time. He takes the ball on constantly and he has been terrific for us this season.

"I think he should have already been in the England set-up, but he is obviously in a position which is already full of strength so it is tough for him.

"But I see his quality and the mentality he brings to the team, day in day out.

"I'm really pleased for him. All he can do now is just keep performing the way he has been and hopefully his chance will come."

Would you like to see Dewsbury-Hall in the England squad for this November's international break? Or does his fitness need protecting for Everton's campaign?

Get in touch with your views here

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Jill: Dispiriting. The players lack confidence and/or are not good enough. They needed somebody who would grab the game by the scruff of the neck. I feel for the supporters who are going to have to watch this stuff.

Richard: If he hasn't already then Jaissle is certainly about to lose the dressing room. The players were clearly angry and frustrated out there. The Ramsey red card was pure frustration boiling out. Coaching 101 says if a couple of players have a poor game then it's on them. When the whole team don't turn up then it's on the coach and that coach needs to accept responsibility and mean it, and I'm not hearing Jaissle doing anything like this.

John: Newcastle are without star quality but potentially good enough to be doing better. Unfortunately for the team, the fans are not supporting them. The fans want instant results and the team cannot deliver results while they are being jeered by their own crowd. The club is in a doom loop.

Karl: Awful yet again. Unfortunately, the manager is looking to be increasingly out of his depth in the Premier League. The performances are woeful and a relegation battle seems imminent unless changes are made by the board. The club is a shambles off and on the pitch. It's awful to see.

Everton fans

Greg: A very solid performance. Really thought Newcastle would come out all guns blazing but we silenced them and the crowd. Should have put it to bed in the first half but we played really well as a team. Thought Tarkowski and Dewsbury-Hall were fantastic. True leaders. Special mention for Rohl, whose pace causes other teams problems.

Jeff: I didn't expect to beat Newcastle twice in five days, but I'll take it. Let's not get carried away, however. Newcastle were poor. Very poor.

Dusty: A good, solid display of teamwork and determination. Barry looked confident after some recent big misses. Garner was on form too. Defensively we were strong - again. These are the games we need to win to ensure a European place. Displays like this fill me with confidence. Well done.

Matty: Best performance of the season. Should have been 3-0 up at half-time. The togetherness of this small squad is truly amazing. Every player turned up for the Blues. The sold-out away end played their part as usual. Such an important win. In Moyes, we trust.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Last season, Thierno Barry scored eight goals in 41 appearances. This season, it's taken him just 12 games to match that tally.

On Monday night Barry scored the only goal against Newcastle as his side earned a deserved win at St James' Park in the Premier League, having also beaten the Magpies in the Carabao Cup last week.

Only Erling Haaland (13) has scored more goals among Premier League players in all competitions this season than Barry (eight).

In the Premier League, Barry leads the way for being involved in the highest proportion of his team's big chances. Before Monday's match, Everton had recorded 24 big chances and Barry had been involved in 15 of them (62.5%).

The striker has often been criticised for being wasteful in front of goal. In Monday's match, for instance, he latched on to Jarrad Branthwaite's flick-on but, when through on goal, made a poor connection with the ball and scuffed his shot.

His goal - a tap-in from two yards - was very difficult not to convert, with the opportunity having had an incredibly high xG of 0.995.

"We know Barry misses chances, but we also know this season he keeps going and he scores goals," former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports.

Everton manager David Moyes added: "We're thrilled he's getting the goals because you need your centre-forward to score. He has missed a few but thankfully tonight he was on the spot to get the goal."

Read more here

Everton attacking midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside after the Toffees claimed their first Premier League away win since February at St James' Park: "It was a very impressive performance. Everybody knows how tough it is to come here, and it is even tougher when you have beaten them a couple of days before because they came with extra impetus.

"We tried to slow their momentum and get the crowd quiet from the first minute, and I thought we did that really well. It was a really good away performance. We kept a clean sheet so we are buzzing with that as well. I'm really happy with it.

"We had to be a bit more pragmatic, defend well, counter-attack and show our quality. Our goal showed all of that from the quick free-kick and a good run from Thierno Barry. I was really pleased with all aspects of the game."

On Thierno Barry getting on the scoresheet once again: "I'm very pleased for him. I'm on him every day and I said to him at full-time that he will get five or six goals per season like that. Nobody cares what the goal is like, they just want to see Thierno Barry as the match-winner. If he keeps getting in the right positions, he will score plenty of goals for us by the law of averages. I'm buzzing for him."

On the club's Premier League aims this season: "I don't know. We got really close to European football last season so we just want to have another really positive season. We have a good enough squad to get into Europe but it is about sticking together, grinding out performances and moments of quality.

"We are going to keep plodding along and going under the radar, so we will see what happens. We go into every game believing we can win."

Listen to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's full post-match interview above or on BBC Sounds here

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's double-header against Newcastle has gone well on the pitch, but off it headlines had been dominated by the club's call to drop Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish.

The England midfielder was not in Everton's squad for Thursday's 1-0 win over Newcastle because of a "breach of club discipline" and he was again not included on Monday.

Everton have not disclosed any further details, but the decision is understood to have arisen from an unauthorised absence from training.

With midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Merlin Rohl stepping up, it might be difficult for Grealish to win his place back in the starting XI.

Consecutive wins have put Everton back on track after back-to-back 2-0 losses to Chelsea and Arsenal, which followed a draw at Hull.

Moyes' team are clicking and they are up to seventh in the Premier League table, two points behind fifth-placed Liverpool.

David Moyes spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Everton's victory against Newcastle: "We had a couple of really good games against Newcastle recently and got some good results. I think we deserved it overall. We were better and should have got a few more goals. In the end we were able to deal with it and see it through. Keeping a clean sheet is a big part of what we try and do."

On Jordan Pickford's save: "He's had some brilliant saves for us. The only compliment I can give him is that it's what we expect from him. He;s maturing and is a lot calmer in a lot of his actions. He's maturing with age as well."

On Thierno Barry: "We're thrilled he's getting the goals because you need your centre forward to score. He has missed a few but thankfully tonight he was on the spot to get the goal."

On Jack Grealish not being in the squad: "He's unavailable at the moment and we will make a decision with the club when we think that availability comes back."

On whether it is related to match fitness: "All I'm giving out is that he is unavailable at the moment."

On whether the discipline breach is over with and if he can comment: "No, I can't comment on that."

Hear more from Moyes on BBC Sounds here

Did you know?

• Since David Moyes returned to Everton in January 2025, only Arsenal (31) and Manchester City (28) have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than the Toffees (20).

• Only Erling Haaland (13) has scored more goals among Premier League players in all competitions this season than Thierno Barry (eight).

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Starting XI:

Jordan Pickford: The former Sunderland keeper was predictable on the receiving end of relentless stick from the home fans but had the last laugh. 7

Jake O'Brien: Helped his side to a third straight Premier League win at St James' Park as the Toffees registered their fourth top-flight clean sheet of the season. 7

James Tarkowski: A commanding captain's performance as Everton won a Premier League away game for the first time since February. 7

Jarrad Branthwaite: Made a winning return to the side after missing the previous two matches because of concussion protocols. 7

Vitalii Mykolenko: Neat and tidy. Worked hard as the Toffees catapulted up the table from 14th to 7th. 7

Merlin Rohl: The German provided energy, got himself into some dangerous positions and went close with one attempt in the first half which cleared the bar. 7

Harrison Armstrong: Covered his face with his shirt after missing a great chance to put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time. 7

James Garner: A gritty performance, the type which David Moyes loves. Played his part in a fine away win. 8

Tyrique George: Heavily involved in the goal. It was his shot that led to the mistake that saw Everton take the lead. 7

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Got stuck in and had an effort tipped over the bar. 7

Thierno Barry: Cannot stop scoring. Although this was the easiest goal he will ever score in his life after a goalkeeping howler. 7

Substitutes:

Brennan Johnson (on 80, Thierno Barry): Helped his side get over the line. 5

Michael Keane (on 82, Jarrad Branthwaite): Helped Everton to clean sheet win. 5

Subs not used: Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Mark Travers, Tyler Dibling, Christian Norgaard, Charly Alcaraz, Hayden Hackney, Braiden Graham.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Everton's double-header against Newcastle has gone well on the pitch, but off it headlines had been dominated by the club's call to drop Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish.

The England midfielder was not in Everton's squad for Thursday's win because of a "breach of club discipline" and he was again not included on Monday.

Everton have not disclosed any further details, but the decision is understood to have arisen from an unauthorised absence from training.

With midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Merlin Rohl stepping up, it might be difficult for Grealish to win his place back in the starting XI.

Consecutive wins have put Everton back on track after back-to-back 2-0 losses to Chelsea and Arsenal, which followed a draw at Hull.

Moyes' team are clicking and they are up to seventh in the Premier League table, two points behind fifth-placed Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton captain James Tarkowski spoke to Sky Sports after victory against Newcastle: "I think it was probably our best performance of the season, I thought we were terrific in the first half and could have scored two or three.

"Thierno [Barry] gets the goal again for us. There's a lot on his shoulders, he's our only recognised striker so hopefully he can keep putting the ball in the net like he has done. He's harsh on himself but his numbers are through the roof in terms of running.

"A clean sheet is massive for us. It's a long old season. We take it game by game but tonight feels good and we can look forward to Friday [against Coventry]."

Goalscorer Thierno Barry spoke to Sky Sports: "I was just working a lot during the summer and now we can see the result. The season is long but I'm happy to help the team with my goals."

On his celebrations: "Like I say, I want to enjoy more than last season and I enjoyed my celebration so I am happy."

On Fabian Schar's challenge: "I think Dan Burn and Fabian Schar were the most difficult defenders I have faced this season because they are really strong but for the striker you just need to score and I won my duels today so I am happy."