Sean Dyche’s work was impressive to steer Everton to safety last season, despite being deducted 10 points.

An April win over rivals Liverpool was the crowning moment.

But three wins from 19 Premier League games in 2024/25, scoring just 15 goals, led to the owners making a change on 9 January.

They’ve frustrated big teams, drawing 1-1 at Manchester City on Boxing Day, while claiming goalless draws against Newcastle, West Ham, Brentford, Arsenal and Chelsea.

However, chance creation has been a problem, with Everton failing to score in 11 of 19 league games under Dyche.

They failed to register a shot on target in his final match in charge - a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.

Everton’s joint-heaviest defeat of the season came at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in August.

Yves Bissouma smashed in his first goal for the club inside 14 minutes, before Heung-Min Son doubled the lead by robbing Jordan Pickford.

Cristiano Romero’s second half header was added to by Son, laid on by a brilliant Micky van de Ven run up field, for 4-0.

However, The Toffees were defensively stretched at the time.

James Tarkowski was thrown back in after injury - while the absence of four potential right-backs led to a debut for youngster Roman Dixon, marking Wilson Odobert.

Admittedly, Moyes' first game back in charge, his 519^th as Everton manager, wasn’t an easy one at home to Champions League side Aston Villa.

Like in Dyche’s final match, The Toffees went 4-2-3-1, with the familiar sights of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite at centre-back, Orle Mangala and Idrissa Gueye in midfield with Abdoulaye Doucoure ahead of them.

The only changes saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin come in for the injured Armando Broja, while Jack Harrison replaced Jesper Lindstrom.

They were more aggressive, higher up the pitch, while Tarkowski spoke of Moyes trying to make them calmer and more controlled on the ball in his limited training sessions.

On the day against Villa, possession, shots and shots and target between the two teams were basically even - the difference being Ollie Watkins took a chance and Dominic Calvert-Lewin did not.

It’s easy to blame the striker, but it’s been a problem position for Everton.

Calvert-Lewin had two notable chances on Wednesday night, the best being a shot over the bar from a few yards out in added-time.

He has two goals in 19 games for Everton this season, while Beto has three.

Armando Broja is no longer an option either, having picked up an ankle ligament injury that may end his loan from Chelsea.

Five-goal forward Iliman Ndiaye, a matchwinner for Sheffield United against Spurs two years ago, has been a bright spark since joining from Marseille, but Moyes has hinted at needing to sign players to help their creativity problem.

Richarlison’s return was welcome midweek at Arsenal, after two and a half months out with a hamstring injury.

Deployed on the left-wing, replacing Son, he seemed intent to influence the game and played a sublime through-ball to Djed Spence down that side for an opportunity.

He’s been 'harassing' Ange Postecoglou to play, so could he come in to start in Spurs’ front three?

The Brazilian scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Everton last season and, as a fan favourite at Goodison Park, one imagines he’ll be desperate for one last run out there before their move to a new stadium.