Alan Smith believes David Moyes deserves significant credit for the platform he has built at Everton after the Blues reached the international break unbeaten in seven matches.
Everton have made an encouraging start to the season, combining an unbeaten Premier League record with progress in the Carabao Cup.
The latest league victory came against Ipswich Town, when Thierno Barry’s early goal secured a 1-0 win at Hill Dickinson Stadium and maintained a run increasingly built around defensive resilience. Former England striker Smith believes that solidity starts at centre-back.
Alan Smith praises Moyes and Everton defensive partnership
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Smith said: “David Moyes deserves lots of credit.”
He particularly highlighted the partnership between James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, describing them as a “brilliant platform” at the heart of Everton’s defence.
The numbers support his assessment. Everton have kept five clean sheets in their opening seven matches in all competitions, while Moyes’ side have repeatedly shown an ability to stay in tight games rather than relying on high-scoring performances. Smith believes that characteristic could prove particularly important because he remains unconvinced Everton possess an abundance of goals.
“They’re a tough nut to crack, which they need to be, because I don’t think they’ve got loads of goals in them,” he said.
That is perhaps the most interesting part of Smith’s assessment. Barry has made an excellent start to life at Everton, but the unbeaten sequence has been founded primarily on organisation and defensive control. Moyes has also shown a willingness to adjust his team when necessary, including exploring whether Merlin Röhl could provide another option at right-back.
Seven games is far too early to draw firm conclusions about where Everton’s season will finish. Five clean sheets and no defeats nevertheless provide exactly the sort of foundation Moyes would have wanted heading into the international break.
Smith’s question about goals remains to be answered. So far, Everton haven’t needed many of them.
LIVE! Premier League 2026 / 27 News, Transfers, Updates & Viral Moments
