It was just 55 short days ago when Everton slunk off the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch after that lame attempt to send Spurs down, but their 2026-27 preparations get underway this afternoon.
David Moyes takes his squad to Dens Park for a 2pm kick-off against Dundee, the first of six pre-season fixtures before the Premier League campaign begins next month.
Dundee finished eighth in the Scottish Premiership last season and go into the match on the back of consecutive wins, giving them a fitness edge over an Everton squad barely a week into full training after reporting back to Finch Farm.
Moyes will be without several key figures. Jordan Pickford remains on England duty ahead of Saturday’s World Cup third-place playoff against France, while Iliman Ndiaye and Nathan Patterson have been given extended breaks following Senegal and Scotland’s group-stage exits. Mark Travers is expected to deputise in goal.
The more useful test lies in what Moyes can learn from his summer additions. Hayden Hackney is in line to make his first appearance since arriving from Middlesbrough, likely in a deeper midfield role alongside Merlin Röhl or James Garner.
Fitness, fitness, fitness
Jarrad Branthwaite, restricted to just ten Premier League appearances last season by hamstring trouble, has come through this week’s training and should feature in a back four expected to include Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski and Vitalii Mykolenko.
Further forward, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harrison Armstrong may both get a chance in the number 10 role, with Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George — his loan move now made permanent — the likely wide options.
Academy forward Braiden Graham may be handed a run-out through the middle along with Beto and/or Thierno Barry, as Everton’s squad numbers are stretched thin by the World Cup contingent still on their break.
Friendlies at this stage rarely offer much beyond fitness data and early individual impressions, but with Hackney, George and Röhl all set for their first (proper) outings in Everton colours, there’s plenty worth watching from what will otherwise be a low-key opener.
Everton’s preparations continue with further friendlies against Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City before a trip to Germany to face Hamburger SV and Stuttgart.
