Moyes Revitalizes Everton's European Ambitions Ahead of Crucial Merseyside Derby

David Moyes' return to Everton over 11 years after his initial departure was met with skepticism. On the surface, it seemed like a desperate attempt by the club to regain some positivity by relying on nostalgia, as they fought to stay in the Premier League. The team was struggling financially and had recently suffered a points deduction, finding themselves just a point above the relegation zone when Moyes returned to Goodison Park. Now, with a new home and renewed ambitions, they are gearing up for the first Hill Dickinson Merseyside derby, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The idea of European football, let alone Champions League aspirations, would have been ridiculed when Moyes first came back. However, since his return, the team has undergone a significant transformation. A win over Liverpool on Sunday would put them just two points shy of the fifth-placed spot, securing a Champions League return. In the Premier League table since Moyes' return, Everton sits in seventh place, surpassing Manchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham, all of which have either played in the Champions League or currently occupy a Champions League spot. These teams have spent significantly more than Everton in the last two transfer windows, with each spending at least £100m more. Despite this, Moyes has successfully utilized the resources at his disposal, turning the team from relegation candidates to European hopefuls. The key to this transformation has been the improvement in away form, a long-standing weakness since his departure from Manchester United in 2014. Under Moyes, Everton has become one of the best-performing teams away from home, with only Arsenal and Manchester City accumulating more points on the road. Moyes' side averages 1.68 points per game on their travels. This is a significant improvement, as the only other time Moyes had a better away record than home record was during his time at Manchester United. At Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and West Ham, he either failed to reach or barely managed a single point per game. Given the team's struggle to score goals, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leading the way with seven goals this season, Moyes has focused on making the team tough to break down. This approach has resulted in the team taking points from big stadiums like Old Trafford, St James' Park, and Villa Park. As a result, Moyes and Everton find themselves in the running for a European spot, a remarkable turnaround. However, ahead of the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the team's home form is a concern. While their away results have been outstanding, they have managed only six Premier League wins in front of their supporters, leaving them 14th in the home standings. Some argue that this is due to teething problems at their new home base. Moyes himself has noted that teams often struggle when moving into a new stadium. The new arena may have impacted the intimidating atmosphere that made Goodison Park a challenging place to visit. The stadium's more open design may reduce the impact of the crowd's voice, making the pitch less suffocating for opposing players. The statistics indicate that Everton plays differently in front of their own supporters, which has been detrimental to their performance. Away from home, they are more direct, attempting 107 more long passes and averaging 39.7 percent possession, compared to 47.6 percent at Hill Dickinson. However, this style of play does not seem to affect their attack. At home, they have scored 21 goals with an xG of 20.46, while away, they have scored 19 goals with an xG of 22.82. The issue lies in their defense, as they are more susceptible to conceding goals when playing with more possession. While they have only conceded one extra goal at home, their expected goals conceded is nearly four goals worse at Hill Dickinson Stadium. By having more possession, Everton leaves themselves more exposed to losing the ball in dangerous areas, allowing the opposition to capitalize. In contrast, when they play more directly away from home, they efficiently move the ball away from their own box, giving them more time to set up when the opposition moves forward. The common saying during the run-in is that teams must treat every game like a cup final. For Moyes and Everton, this should be adjusted to treating every game like an away match, starting with Sunday's derby against Liverpool. If they can adopt this approach, there is a good chance Moyes will achieve what seemed unthinkable at the start of the campaign and bring European football back to Merseyside. Watch Everton vs Liverpool on Super Sunday from 1pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event.