Everton return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when they host Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium. After narrowly missing out on European qualification last season, David Moyes has added five new faces to his squad, though he has admitted he hoped for more transfer business before the window closes.
Our Everton writers have made their predictions for the new campaign, covering the Blues' likely finish, Player of the Year, breakout star, title winner, top scorer, and relegation candidates.
Predicted Finishing Positions
Paul Wheelock believes a top-10 finish is possible if a right-back and a striker better than Thierno Barry or Beto are signed before the deadline. Without those additions, he expects a similar finish to last season.
Chris Beesley predicted 10th last year and says the Blues probably should have achieved it before their late collapse. He hopes Moyes' experience can guide Everton to a first top-half finish since 2021, though he notes European qualification may be out of reach if the right-back situation isn't resolved.
Connor O'Neill predicts an eighth-place finish, an improvement on last season's 13th, though he questions whether that will be enough for European football. Joe Thomas sees 11th as realistic if a right-back is signed and Jarrad Branthwaite stays fit, but he believes higher is unlikely given the gap to Arsenal, Liverpool, the Manchester clubs, and Aston Villa.
Player of the Year and Breakout Stars
All four writers agree that Jarrad Branthwaite is Everton's most important player and the likely Player of the Year if he stays fit. Wheelock notes James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could push him close, while O'Neill backs Garner to retain the crown once Branthwaite returns.
Harrison Armstrong is tipped as a breakout candidate by Wheelock and Thomas, with injuries to James Garner and Christian Norgaard potentially giving the youngster a chance to shine early. Beesley highlights Hayden Hackney as a possible rough diamond, while O'Neill believes Thierno Barry could hit the ground running if he scores early. Thomas also mentions Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George as players who need breakout seasons.
Title Race and Other Predictions
Arsenal are the unanimous pick to win the Premier League title, with all four writers citing their squad depth and strength. Erling Haaland is the favourite for the Golden Boot, though Thomas picks Joao Pedro.
The three promoted clubs - Coventry City, Ipswich Town, and Hull City - are expected to fill the bottom three places, with Beesley also mentioning Sunderland and Fulham as potential strugglers.
For the Champions League, Wheelock and O'Neill back Paris Saint-Germain, while Beesley and Thomas tip Arsenal. Beesley suggests Barcelona could be contenders if they sign Julian Alvarez or another top-class striker.
