Everton's Penultimate Game at Goodison Park!

On Saturday, Everton will host their last 3pm kickoff and penultimate game at Goodison Park, hosting already relegated side Ipswich Town, hoping to conclude the legacy of the Grand Old Lady with the perfect send-off, as it deserves.

Following Ipswich’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday, relegation to the EFL Championship was confirmed with 4 games left before the end of the season. Ipswich’s rise from the lower leagues is certainly something for the Tractor Boys to be proud of! However, for Kieran McKenna, the climb up the summit is slipping again, and they will be playing against Leicester and Southampton as well, as all three clubs that were promoted in the 23/24 season are confirmed to be going back down again.

McKenna and Ipswich players clapping for the travelling supporters after relegation confirmed

With the club, for the final game in a couple weeks' time against Southampton, planning to organise an amazing tifo/flag display, this means the 1878s, the fan-organised group for all the displays before kickoff, will set up their final display at Goodison Park, and there are exciting aspects around tomorrow. Sticker tape in the Upper Bullens, a Goodison Park display, with everyone in the Park End having a piece of either white or blue paper, and the traditional flag displays in the Gwladys Street! They have also requested for as many people as possible to wear blue to create an aesthetic visual for the players and fans. One of the flags produced included ex-Everton and current Tottenham Hotspur attacker Richarlison, who reposted the video on Instagram showing off the banner on the 1878s page. Amidst transfer rumours regarding a possible return, could this be a further sign of the Brazilian wanting to make a comeback for the Toffees?

Richarison showing respect to Everton fans after scoring against them (Feb 3rd 2024)

The priority for the summer transfer window for the Blues should be an attacker. This season Everton have only managed to score 34 goals in the Premier League campaign this season, making them the 17th worst club in the league regarding this matter. However, it seems Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future may not be over with the Blues. Although just recently returning from a hamstring injury, forcing him to stay on the sidelines for over 10 games this season, the English striker’s contract is set to run out come the end of the season, and the player has had the opportunity to sign a pre-contract deal with another club; however, this has not happened yet. Although Calvert-Lewin’s wage demands have reportedly been ridiculously high, it seems the 28-year-old wants to stay: “I’m an Everton player, and my focus will always be on doing my best for Everton, and I have a lot of respect for Everton Football Club. It’s given me everything I have today. My main focus is making sure I am in the best condition; it is like going through a mini pre-season to get fit for these last four games. With the new manager coming in, the club is moving in the right direction, there’s a new stadium, and there’s a lot to be positive about. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?” It will certainly be interesting to see if the striker’s contract will be renewed or not and whether David Moyes believes it is the right choice going forward.

Calvert-Lewin recieivng on-field treatment for a hamstring injury at Brighton (25th Jan)

All transfer business aside, the focus is on the football. In the reverse fixture, Everton defeated Ipswich Town 2-0 at Portman Road. Goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane handed the Blues the three points, and I’m sure no one would complain! Although Ipswich are already down, there would be no shock if they wanted to cause a dent in the Toffees' hope of giving the Grand Old Lady a fabulous send-off. Players like Liam Delap, who has repeatedly been on the Blues’ radar, and multiple other clubs too, including Manchester United and Chelsea, will certainly be someone to look out for. 12 Premier League goals this season mean it would be a surprise to see the 22-year-old playing in the Championship next season.

For Ipswich, Kieran McKenna has confirmed in his pre-match press conference that there are a ridiculous number of players that will be judged on the day of the fixture. During the game against Newcastle United, Ipswich missed out on 10 different players: Aro Muric, Axel Tuanzebe, Leif Davis, Conor Townsend, Kalvin Phillips, Wes Burns, Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Jaden Philogene and ex-Everton player Nathan Broadhead. McKenna, when asked about the issues, stated, "I'm not going to go through everyone individually again, but last week we were in a really difficult spot, and it's not very dissimilar this week. There's going to be quite a lot of late judgement calls, genuinely. We've got quite a few players who, if not ready this week, have a really good chance for next week. Certainly in two games' time we'll be much, much closer to where we'd want to be in terms of availability."

On the other hand, David Moyes in his pre-match press conference was focused on transfer business, especially Calvert-Lewin, with the Scottish manager explaining that he is “hoping to have him around; he's trained this week. In truth, it's probably too quick to put him back in, and even minutes is a bit worrying. I think I want to get him back involved; we only have three or four weeks to go… There hasn't been a contract offer since I've been here; it was under a different regime. We want everyone to have to fight for what they're doing and show what they're worth. We're taking a lot of time to look; unfortunately, Dom has been injured for a big part of it, but his history has been very good, so we will take all that into consideration… He's only now had three days of training in total, so it would be unfair to judge him on the last four games. It's not me who's always judging him; Evertonians will be judging him. I'll make the final decision, but Dom has to show us he's robust and can be fit to play. Undoubtedly he's got qualities other strikers don't have, and he has to show us all when he gets the opportunities that he'll take it. We need him to be ready to train, play, and be competitive in more games than he's been available for."

As well, the questions from the media were about Goodison Park’s farewell, with Moyes stating, “The pressure the players and the club have been under in the last few years has been incredible. Our pressure now is to play well at Goodison for the supporters, for the families that have been here for years and years. It's not a question of if we will survive or not. Obviously, a determination to do well for everyone that turns up to watch us."

Finally, Armando Broja is available and will return to the matchday squad after missing out on the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea last week at Stamford Bridge due to that being the Albanian’s parent club; James Tarkowski, Jesper Lindstrøm and Orel Mangala remain out.

---

Premier League Matchweek 35:

Friday 2nd May:

Manchester City 1-0 Wolves

Saturday 3rd May:

Aston Villa 12:30 Fulham

Leicester City 15:00 Southampton

Everton 15:00 Ipswich

Sunday 4th May:

Brighton 14:00 Newcastle

Brentford 14:00 Man United

West Ham 14:00 Tottenham

Chelsea 14:30 Liverpool

Monday 5th May:

Crystal Palace 20:00 Nottingham Forest

---

Thank you for reading my pre-match article!