Everton remain unbeaten eight matches into the season, but a 2-2 draw at Hull City exposed why supporters feel let down by the club's owners in the summer transfer market. The game was played against the backdrop of The Friedkin Group putting the club up for sale, less than 22 months after completing their takeover from Farhad Moshiri.
Owners' sale timing and Moyes' response
Little more than 48 hours before the match at the MKM Stadium, Evertonians, plus the manager, players and club staff, were awoken to news that the Blues' absentee landlords from Texas were prepared to call time on their Merseyside investment. The timing, at the end of an extended three-week international break, might be deemed an unwelcome distraction.
David Moyes, in a bullish but considered pre-match press conference, remarked that long-term the club deserves a set of owners that share the passion of both himself and the fans. Other than the prospect of selling up, the other main topic of conversation was the Manchester City guilty verdict, with Moyes noting that Everton were twice handed points deductions for single PRR breaches and hoping they weren't the only ones picked on.
Disallowed goal and defensive struggles
Right on cue, there was more controversy. Brennan Johnson, who struck 18 times for Tottenham Hotspur in 2024/25 but failed to find the net in 26 outings for Crystal Palace, was denied a first Premier League goal for Everton after an offside interpretation. Hull keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was spared his blushes after making a mess of coming for Jarrad Branthwaite's cross.
Branthwaite, with Vitalii Mykolenko unavailable for the first time this season, was the fall guy to become the square peg in a round hole at left-back. Having undergone rehabilitation treatment at the MYOS clinic in Munich over the summer, the 24-year-old's form in the heart of defence had earned a first England call for over two years. Watching him zip up and down the wing was the football equivalent of a rollercoaster ride, and it proved a real mixed bag for Branthwaite.
Maitland-Niles' mixed afternoon and late equaliser
Branthwaite had already received ironic cheers from the home fans when attempting an audacious backheel that rolled into touch just moments before Hull went ahead. Home centre-forward Oli McBurnie nutmegged him before planting a hopeful diagonal pass that should have been meat and drink for Ainsley Maitland-Niles. His attempted clearance went straight to Sorba Thomas, who fed Joe Gelhardt to fire the home side in front.
Just seven minutes later, Maitland-Niles made amends somewhat as he picked out Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to head Everton level. The former Chelsea man then turned provider, intercepting Thomas' attempted cross-field pass to pick out Thierno Barry, who calmly put Everton ahead. That should have been the cue for a 13th Premier League away win since Moyes returned, but there was another sting in the tail as the Blues switched off again at the back, and Jordan Pickford was beaten by substitute Mohamed Belloumi's effort, with the defending from Maitland-Niles, Garner and Branthwaite questioned.
