Everton Aims For European Football Following Strong Premier League Performance

Everton's recent form has sparked discussions about their potential to qualify for European competitions. They climbed to fifth in the Premier League after a decisive 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Hill Dickinson Stadium. This win marked their fourth in five games, showcasing their strong performance. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall forced an own goal early on, and Thierno Barry scored his first Everton goal just before half-time. Dewsbury-Hall secured the win with a late strike.

David Moyes, Everton's manager, is cautiously optimistic about the team's prospects this season. "I'm too old now to say we just want to avoid relegation," he told BBC Match of the Day. "But I'm not daft enough to say Europe is fully possible, I don't think we are quite

ready. But we will keep knocking at the door. " Moyes emphasised the importance of maintaining clean sheets and acknowledged the difficulty of winning in the Premier League.

Dewsbury-Hall shares Moyes' vision but with more enthusiasm. He appreciates the support from fans and teammates, saying, "The way the fans have taken to me is so humbling. " He believes that European football is a realistic goal for Everton given their resources and infrastructure. The midfielder has been in excellent form, scoring three goals in his last four league matches.

Thierno Barry was delighted to score his first Premier League goal for Everton. "I can't stop smiling because I scored today," he said. Barry had previously seen a goal disallowed by VAR but remained determined to make an impact on the pitch.

Nottingham Forest struggled against Everton, failing to score for the eighth time this season. Former Everton manager Sean Dyche expressed disappointment with his team's performance, stating they were lacking physically and made poor decisions during the match. Despite having possession in key areas, Forest couldn't capitalise on opportunities.

This Club should be challenging for Europe or in Europe, but people need to give us time and understand how bad it's been in the last few years. But I'm going for it and so are the players.David Moyes on a fourth victory in five games.#EVENFOpic.twitter.com/hALw6EtWQ2

- Everton (@Everton)December 6, 2025

Moyes praised Barry's perseverance after several near misses before finally scoring his first goal for Everton. "It's huge for him," Moyes said. "He's got to score when you're playing centre forward; otherwise, we will find someone to replace him. " The manager highlighted Barry's potential as a key player moving forward.

Despite Forest's struggles, Dyche acknowledged that his players deserve credit for their efforts but stressed they must improve their physicality and decision-making on the field. He noted that while they attempted to play positively, they fell short of expectations.

Everton's recent success has raised hopes among fans and players alike about competing at a higher level. With continued improvement and determination, they aim to challenge for European spots while building on their current momentum.