The Toffees sit just five points behind Liverpool as they prepare to host their first Merseyside derby at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium
David Moyes has engineered one of the Premier League's most remarkable transformations. Everton, who spent recent seasons battling relegation and financial turmoil, now harbour genuine hopes of European qualification with six games remaining.
The numbers tell the story. Last season ended with 11 teams and 36 points separating Liverpool from their city rivals. Today? Just two teams and five points.
The Scottish manager's impact since returning to Goodison Park 15 months ago extends far beyond the league table. He inherited a club scarred by points deductions and financial chaos, rejected by transfer targets who viewed Everton as damaged goods.
Moyes revealed the extent of Everton's reputational damage when discussing last summer's recruitment difficulties.
I want to bring players here who the Evertonians can see will make a difference and can bring something new, and I found it really difficult at the start. If you look back on the numbers we took to America last summer for the Premier League tournament, we had very few players with us at all.
The transformation under The Friedkin Group's ownership has been dramatic. The new owners repaired the balance sheet, providing Moyes with the platform to rebuild both the squad and the club's standing.
Moyes understands what European qualification would mean for a club that had become accustomed to survival battles.
It would hopefully get the club back to somewhere where people have more respect for it. Not a club that's seen as having financial problems but has built a new stadium and is trying to regroup.
The manager's ambitions extend beyond this season. Despite the financial gulf between Everton (£196.7m turnover) and Liverpool (£703m), he's determined to restore competitive balance to Merseyside.
Sunday's match represents more than just the 248th Merseyside derby. It's the first to be held at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton's new waterfront home that symbolises their renaissance.
Everton supporters group the 1878s have prepared a provocative tifo entitled 'The Originals' for the occasion. The display features:
The leaked image predictably sparked a slanging match between rival supporters, but it underlines Everton's newfound confidence.
Everton enter the derby on the back of an emphatic victory over Chelsea at their new stadium. Liverpool, by contrast, have endured what Moyes diplomatically called a "turbulent, inconsistent campaign".
The power dynamics have shifted so dramatically that Moyes felt comfortable offering Arne Slot sympathy, though he couldn't resist a dig at Liverpool's complaints about refereeing decisions.
I'm not having him saying they are getting bad decisions at Anfield because if you ask any Premier League manager over football history, they will tell you that if there is one club that gets all the decisions it is Liverpool Football Club.
This derby carries implications far beyond local bragging rights. Champions League qualification remains in Liverpool's hands, but Everton's European ambitions are equally legitimate.
Moyes articulated what European football would mean for Everton's global standing.
I know the outcome of what it does for the support, not just here but globally, if you get European football. It's a big thing because of the coverage of European football.
The manager's psychological approach has been masterful. While extending support to Slot, he simultaneously undermined Liverpool's excuses and highlighted their decline from last season's near-miss in the title race.
Despite the current optimism, Moyes remains grounded about Everton's position. "We could still finish 14th," he warned, acknowledging the congested nature of the table.
But his longer-term vision is clear. Having never won at Anfield as a visiting manager, Moyes sees this derby as an opportunity to announce Everton's return to relevance.
It is a different club now to what it's been over the last three or four years. It has been a competitive club for most of the time I can remember. I want us to get back to that.
Sunday's derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium represents a watershed moment for both clubs. For Everton, it's a chance to cement their revival and stake a claim for European football on the biggest stage possible. Victory would not only close the gap to two points but psychologically establish their new stadium as a fortress where even Liverpool can be conquered.
For Liverpool, the stakes are equally high. Defeat would not only damage their Champions League hopes but confirm a power shift in the city they've dominated for decades. With star player Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk leading their charge, Liverpool will be desperate to maintain their superiority.
The financial disparity between the clubs remains vast, but as Moyes has proven, money doesn't always dictate outcomes. In a season where Liverpool have stumbled and Everton have soared, Sunday's derby could define both clubs' trajectories for years to come.
Moyes has taken Everton from relegation battlers to European contenders in 15 months. The gap to Liverpool has shrunk from 36 points to just 5 points this season.
The first Merseyside derby at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium takes place on Sunday. This will be the 248th meeting between the clubs.
Everton now harbour genuine hopes of European qualification with six games remaining. They sit just five points behind Liverpool in the race for European spots.
The Rumour MillManchester United have reportedly prepared a €100m bid for Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, joining Liverpool and Arsenal in pursuit of the England winger. The valuation represents more than double what Newcastle paid 18 months ago, highlighting both the player's remarkable development and the inflated transfer market.
The Rumour MillAston Villa are preparing a concrete move for Liverpool's Curtis Jones, contradicting Arne Slot's February promise that the midfielder would remain at Anfield. The potential transfer highlights the disconnect between public managerial statements and transfer reality, while offering Jones a chance at regular first-team football.
The Friedkin Group repaired Everton's balance sheet and provided financial stability. This allowed Moyes to rebuild the squad and restore the club's credibility in the transfer market.
SportSignals is an independent publication. Views expressed are our own.
