David Moyes has challenged Everton to set their sights on European qualification after a spirited comeback victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday. The 2-1 win, secured with a late turnaround, has propelled the Toffees into seventh place in the Premier League standings, just two points behind Liverpool. This result keeps Everton comfortably away from relegation concerns, sitting 14 points clear of the drop zone.
The match began poorly for Everton, with Vitalii Mykolenko scoring an own goal in the 18th minute, putting Fulham ahead. The visitors struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, and their winless away record looked set to continue. However, a much-improved second-half performance saw Everton claw their way back into the game. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall leveled the score in the 75th minute. Shortly after, a corner from Dewsbury-Hall was misjudged by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who punched the ball into his own net, handing Everton the lead.
Moyes, who watched the game from the stands due to a touchline ban, was pleased with his team's resilience. "We did well to make sure it was only 1-0 at half-time and we played much better in the second half," Moyes said. He acknowledged the importance of the win in easing relegation fears but immediately shifted the focus towards a more ambitious goal.
"I don't want to come in here and say we're trying to avoid relegation. I don't want to do that because Everton have had too much bad news and bad publicity, so I'd rather come in here and say we're having a go at Europe," Moyes declared. He admitted that this might be seen as overly optimistic but emphasized his desire to instill a positive mindset within the team. "You might laugh at me in a few weeks' time and say, 'How stupid was I', but I'd rather be positive and try to make the players know that is what I want. They do know, they know as well and they are well aware that we'd like to do that," he added.
Everton's last appearance in Europe was nine seasons ago, in the Europa League. Since Moyes' return to the club in January 2025, Everton have been in impressive form, securing the sixth-highest points total in the league. With Liverpool within touching distance, the prospect of European football is a realistic target for the Toffees.
Moyes also commented on his touchline ban, which stemmed from a yellow card received for celebrating on the pitch during the previous game against Brighton. While accepting the punishment, he pointed out the inconsistency in applying the rules, referencing the lack of cautions when Arsenal's staff ran onto the pitch during their recent Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Looking ahead, Moyes has recently welcomed Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea, adding depth to his attacking options following an injury to Jack Grealish. He believes George, who has already trained with the team, is an exciting young player who can contribute in multiple attacking roles.