Dyche backs Moyes to push Everton forward in second Goodison spell

Sean Dyche is confident that new Everton manager David Moyes will push the club forward as the Scot prepares for his first game since coming back to Goodison Park.

Moyes returned to Merseyside last Saturday for his second spell in charge of the Toffees after Dyche was sacked following a poor run of results in the Premier League.

Dyche took charge of Everton in January 2023, helping them survive relegation in both his campaigns at the helm, despite an eight-point deduction in the 2023-24 term.

But this season, Everton find themselves 16th in the Premier League table, one point above the relegation zone, with their poor displays this season seeing Dyche dismissed.

They have failed to score in a league-high 11 different top-flight games this term. It’s just one game fewer than they failed to score in compared to the whole of last season (12).

Everton have also scored only 15 Premier League goals this campaign, better than only Southampton (12) and at least five fewer than any other team in the division so far.

Tonight: #EVEAVL. COYB! pic.twitter.com/T2hH7OLhPQ

— Everton (@Everton) January 15, 2025

Moyes returns to the Goodison Park dugout on Wednesday, with the Toffees taking on Aston Villa, a side he has beaten 13 times in 34 games against them in the top-flight.

Everton, however, are winless in their last 11 Premier League games against Villa (D3 L8), having won six of their previous eight against them before this (D1 L1).

But Dyche believes, no matter the result, that Everton are in good hands under Moyes, going on to label his two-year stint with the Toffees as “an honour”.

In a statement, released through the League Managers Association, Dyche said: “David is a manager who I have great respect for.

“I believe he and his staff will help to push the club forward again and build on the stable footing we have implemented in the past two years.

“The right time has come to leave the club, with the team in good shape. My part as a custodian has been played, and I will forever take great pride in that.”