When Beto found the net yesterday, it not only dashed Fulham’s hopes of European football for another season but also ignited Everton’s ambitions of launching a continental push next year.
The goal certainly lacked any sort of quality from a European challenger; Beto was inexplicably left unmarked, drifting into the corner of the box before hitting a relatively tame shot. Yet, the strike somehow slipped under Bernd Leno, sealing a valuable away win and sparking celebrations worthy of a crucial three points with a win at the Cottage.
A goal is a goal. And that was the case when Everton traveled to Nottingham Forest and Brighton, while not losing to continental challengers Brentford and Arsenal. All clubs that had momentum within their European challenge at the time of losing points to the Merseyside Blues.
Michael Keane’s goal highlighted Everton’s set-piece threat, while Mykolenko’s equaliser, albeit fortunate, provided the kind of luck often needed to shift momentum in a game. If the team can build on these second-half performances, there's genuine reason to believe that next season could finally be their moment.
David Moyes famously guided Everton to Champions League qualification in 2005 and has since proven his pedigree in Europe, leading West Ham to strong Europa League campaigns and lifting the Europa Conference League trophy. His experience could be key to reigniting continental dreams at the new home.
Consistency will be the key
Everton have certainly struggled with consistency this season and have not won back-to-back games since Moyes came into the position. While the results have barely been consistent since February, the performances have been of a standard and improvement from the Dyche era.
With a solid foundation already forming under Moyes, the next step is turning those improved performances into regular results. The defensive structure appears more dynamic but disciplined, and there's greater balance in midfield, but turning narrow draws into wins will be vital if Everton are to push for a top-half finish or even flirt with European qualification.
The upcoming summer window will also be crucial. Moyes must address the lack of squad depth that has plagued Everton in recent seasons, particularly in attacking midfield and up front. With smart recruitment, potentially involving familiar faces from his West Ham tenure, Everton can finally move away from relegation battles and start looking up the table.
The momentum from this upward trajectory could give Everton the boost they need to climb the table, hopefully far enough that fans can start dreaming of booking trips to the European mainland next season.