Everton will spend 23 days without a league game, and David Moyes says the club have to use the time well rather than treat it as a gain. The pause runs until the trip to Hull City on 11 October, with Everton unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions. Moyes also says he is understood to be planning a behind-closed-doors game with Championship side Blackburn.
Moyes on the break
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Moyes made clear he does not see the lay-off as a benefit. “I’d be surprised if it was a benefit from where we are, I think we’d rather the league continue.” He added that this is the longest in-season break he can remember and the first time Everton have gone three weeks during the season.
That is why the emphasis now is on rest and controlled work. Moyes said the club have an opportunity to give players more rest time, while others can train differently and in-house games are likely across clubs during the break.
Squad split during international duty
Everton also go into the pause with 11 players away on international duty, which leaves a much smaller group at Finch Farm. Christian Nørgaard and Merlin Röhl are currently injured, while the players staying back include Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish, Hayden Hackney, Michael Keane, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, James Tarkowski and Mark Travers.
The key point is not that the break is easy, because Moyes does not frame it that way. It is a forced reset for a squad that has started well, and the next real marker is Hull City away on 11 October.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
