David Moyes is choosing his words carefully this season. Everton sit fifth in the Premier League — unbeaten after five matches and on nine points — yet their manager is flatly refusing to entertain any talk of European football.

"We are not using those words this year," Moyes said after a 1-0 home win over Ipswich Town on Saturday, a result secured by Thierno Barry's 11th-minute strike — his fifth goal of the campaign.

The painful memory of last season's collapse

The caution is understandable. In 2025-26, Everton were in eighth place after a 3-0 dismantling of Chelsea in March, just three points shy of a Champions League berth. Yet they failed to win any of their final seven matches and eventually finished 13th — four points behind Brighton, who qualified for the Conference League, and five adrift of Sunderland, who reached the Europa League alongside Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

Moyes acknowledged that the experience of daring to dream cost him. "I enjoyed saying the words last year," he admitted. "The players had done so well, I started to believe we had a real chance — and it allowed me to be like that." He will not make the same mistake twice.

Defensive solidity at the heart of the revival

Everton's resurgence has been built on clean sheets. Moyes' side have conceded nothing in five of their seven competitive matches so far this season, including two Carabao Cup victories that set up a home last-16 tie against Newcastle United in October.

That defensive record is all the more remarkable given the departures of the summer. Striker Beto left for Fiorentina on transfer deadline day, while key attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye joined Manchester City on the same date. Barry, previously a peripheral figure who scored eight times last season, is now Everton's only recognised centre-forward.

Moyes, however, is demanding more — particularly in front of goal. "We had 21 shots against Ipswich, which is very good, but only two on target, which isn't very good," he said. "I'm actually more disappointed that we aren't scoring more goals. I'm rapping them like you wouldn't believe — why are we not getting better crosses into the box, better finishes, shooting from the edge of the box?"

Murphy backs Moyes' methods

Former England midfielder and BBC pundit Danny Murphy expressed little surprise at Everton's start. "Nothing surprises me with a David Moyes side," Murphy said. "They're so well organised, so well motivated, and always dangerous when their backs are against the wall."

Murphy acknowledged fan frustration over the club's transfer activity but maintained the squad retained enough quality to compete. "It is a thin squad, but they've still got quality," he said, adding that the defensive structure made a top-half finish attainable regardless of forward depth.

Pickford proud of the Everton spirit

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford struck an upbeat tone ahead of the international break, during which Everton will not return to Premier League action until 11 October against Hull City. "You have to dig in — that's the Everton way," Pickford told BBC Sport. "We are building momentum and we will be focused and ready to go when we come back."

On Barry's growing influence, Pickford added: "He works hard and the goals will come from working hard. The first year in the Premier League is always tough. He has found his feet and has started a lot better this year."

Moyes, meanwhile, reflected proudly on how far the club has travelled since he returned for his second spell in January 2025, when Everton were 16th and one point above the relegation zone. "It was fantastic what we did," he said. "We came so close to doing something that would have been incredibly special — no money, on the verge of relegation, moving to a new stadium. We came really close."