Everton news: Ten fixtures for Toffees’ fans to relish in 2024/25 season
The forthcoming 2024/25 season is Sean Dyche’s second full campaign in charge of the Toffees - and will be his and the club’s last at Goodison Park.
The season will be a historic one for Everton, as they will wave goodbye to their home of 132 years.
Dyche has the task of leading the club into a positive and memorable season before they move into their new home on the banks of the Mersey.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Jon Shea looks through 10 fixtures that Toffees fans have all popped in their calendar as games that cannot be missed.
Everton vs Brighton: Goodison Park, Saturday, August 17
Last season’s scoreline: 1-1
The first game of the season is always one to look forward to and Everton’s curtain raiser is against Brighton and Hove Albion, who are now managed by the youngest boss in the division’s history; Fabian Hurzeler.
Dyche has the task to get off to a winning start, and hopefully a quieter season than the previous but all hope and expectations which all fans start the season build themselves up with, will get their first taste of reality over the weekend.
Everton will want to get their historic season off to a winning start having lost the first match of the season in the last two campaigns. This is where the reality is likely to sink in for most Everton supporters, as the last season at Goodison Park commences.
Everton vs Newcastle United: Goodison Park, Saturday, October 5
Last season’s scoreline: 3-0
Everton and Newcastle have built up a small rivalry in recent years, with animosity amongst the fans which is directed towards Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who played for Newcastle’s biggest rivals Sunderland.
Incredibly, this will be the first fixture between the sides to be played on a weekend since the 2020/21 lockdown season. Everton and Newcastle United are huge clubs in the Premier League and the fixture always projects a ferocious atmosphere at Goodison Park.
One of Everton’s memorable victories last season would have been the home win over the Magpies at Goodison Park just a couple of weeks after they had received their points deduction and put three past Eddie Howe’s men.
And if former fans’ favourite Anthony Gordon is still wearing the black and white of Newcastle, the game will have even more spice to it.
Ipswich Town vs Everton: Portman Road, Saturday, October 19
Last season scoreline: N/A
For many away supporters they have a new Premier League ground to check off their list, as Portman Road becomes a Premier League stadium for the first time in 22 years.
Ipswich Town finally achieved promotion back to the top-flight under highly-rated coach Keiran McKenna.
McKenna led the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, amassing 98 and 96 points in League One and the Championship, respectively.
It will be difficult to know what to expect from them on the day as the season will be well underway by then, but one thing for sure is to expect an incredible atmosphere.
It will be Everton’s first trip to Portman Road since a 0-0 draw in October 2001, and the travelling supporters will be hoping for a win this time around.
Everton vs Liverpool: Goodison Park, Saturday, December 7
Last season’s scoreline: 2-0
The fixture that Everton supporters are looking forward to the most as this will be the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.
Everton won this fixture in April, to secure their first home victory over Liverpool since 2010 and effectively end their title hopes in Jurgen Klopp’s last derby.
Undoubtedly, it would taste even sweeter if Everton were to end Merseyside Derbies at Goodison with a win. It will be new Reds’ boss Arne Slot’s first derby, so the precedent is there for Liverpool to go and win.
The Merseyside Derby is always the first fixture fans of both teams look for when the fixtures are released, and the first bragging rights of the season are up for grabs over the festive period.
Manchester City vs Everton: Etihad Stadium, Thursday, December 26
Last season's scoreline: 2-0
The Christmas fixture list comes thick and fast for Premier League clubs and Everton’s December is one of the toughest in the division - rounded off with a Boxing Day trip to the defending champions at the Etihad Stadium.
This is not the fixture many would have wanted the day after Christmas as Manchester City are a side to be feared again this season. Everton did lose at the Etihad last season thanks to a brace by Erling Haaland, in fact they have not won away at City since March 2010.
Despite it being quite the task for Dyche’s men, Boxing Day is always an enjoyable day for football and no doubt the Everton fans will be there to cheer on their team.
Everton vs Aston Villa: Goodison Park, Tuesday, January 14
Last season's scoreline: 0-0
This fixture will continue the record of the most-played fixture in English league history as this will be the 214th meeting between the two sides.
Aston Villa are of course in the Champions League for the forthcoming season so it will be interesting to see their progress in the competition when the fixture comes around.
Villa and Everton are two clubs with huge histories in the English game, winning a combined 16 League titles, 12 FA Cups and two European trophies - and with this being the final meeting at Goodison between the two, it just adds a little bit more meaning to those in blue, who will be hoping to round off this fixture at the Old Lady with a win.
Everton vs Manchester United: Goodison Park, Saturday, February 22
Last season's scoreline: 0-3
When the biggest club in England visit Goodison, it is always a special occasion and Manchester United’s final trip will be in late February.
This fixture last season was the fixture immediately after Everton’s points deduction which led to protests in and outside the ground - only to be drowned out in the third minute by that Alejandro Garnacho overhead kick.
Manchester United went on to win 3-0 in a game Everton dominated, but this will be Everton’s chance to make it right. Manchester United have been one of the frequent visitors to Goodison Park, and Everton have had many memorable nights against the Red Devils.
Whether it be the 5-0 on the way to the title in 1985, Duncan Ferguson towering headers in 1995 and 2005 or the 4-0 under Marco Silva in 2019 – this is the final Everton vs Manchester United chapter at Goodison Park.
Chelsea vs Everton: Stamford Bridge, Saturday, April 26
Last season's scoreline: 6-0
Stamford Bridge was the home of Everton’s biggest defeat last season, as Everton were dismantled by Mauricio Pochettino’s men 6-0, with Cole Palmer grabbing four of them.
Chelsea, who are now managed by Enzo Maresca, will pose new threats - but Dyche will be desperate to avenge the humiliation of last term.
Everton have not won at the Bridge since 1994 so a win is long overdue there, as well as putting right the debacle of last season.
Travelling Everton fans will not want to leave there with the same sinking feeling as they did last season.
Everton vs Southampton: Goodison Park, Sunday, May 18
Last season's scoreline: N/A
The final visitors to Goodison Park are Southampton, in matchday 37 - and will be a match not one fan of Everton will want to miss as they say goodbye to their home.
Goodison Park has been a large part of people’s lives for over a century, and its goodbye is going to be as emotional a game as ever seen in the stadium.
A feeling that will not sink in for a while for the fans that the last game is happening. Most importantly, it is vital Everton round it off with a win and then the tears and the ceremonies can begin.
A staggering 132 years of history will end when the referee blows his whistle after an hour and a half of play - and a stadium which has seen trophies, tears, final-day scraps and pitch invasions will close its doors for the very last time.
It has been long-awaited, dreaded and talked about and is now official – Everton vs Southampton is the final fixture at Goodison Park.
Newcastle United vs Everton: St James’ Park, Sunday, May 25
Last season's scoreline: 1-1
Depending on where Everton are in the table, it is difficult to know what the emotion of this game will be - but the season will end at St James’ Park.
It will be a week after the final game at Goodison Park so there will potentially be some teary eyes in the away end.
This game will spark a new era at Everton as the countdown to the new stadium will begin.
*Some dates are subject to change.
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