Everton fixture theories fact-checked after Liverpool and Newcastle dates confirmed

We’re told that the Premier League fixture computer generates its sequences but some Everton fans still think they can spot some reoccurring patterns so let’s put some theories to the test.

The first Merseyside Derby of the season is always at Goodison Park

Everton’s first Merseyside Derby of 2024/25 will be at Goodison Park on December 7 with the Anfield return a midweek fixture on April 2. It was the other way around last season with Liverpool triumphing 2-0 – in controversial circumstances when Ashley Young was sent off for two bookings but Ibrahima Konate wasn’t – at Anfield on October 21 before Everton secured a 2-0 success, their first home victory in the fixture for 13-and-a-half years, on April 26.

However, for the previous three seasons the Blues were always at home first. For three years in a row before that, Anfield went first but the thought process probably goes back to the period between 2003/04 to 2013/14 it went Goodison then Anfield for 11 straight seasons!

It should also be noted that over the last 21 seasons, Goodison has gone first on 15 occasions so that is almost three quarters of the time. Will the sequence continue when the local rivals no longer cross Stanley Park for derbies with Everton relocating to their 52,888 capacity future home at Bramley-Moore Dock?

READ MORE: Everton Premier League fixtures 2024/25 - Blues play at Goodison Park on opening day

READ MORE: Everton opponent for Goodison Park farewell confirmed as Premier League fixtures released

Everton v Newcastle United won’t be played at a weekend

Everyone loves to play at Goodison Park under the lights but the Magpies got their wings clipped by Everton last season in a 3-0 defeat on December 7 that was part of a four-match winning sequence for Sean Dyche’s side.

Indeed other than the 2020/21 season when the fixture was played behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions, Newcastle were handed seven consecutive visits to Everton on week nights (Wednesday, Monday, Wednesday, Tuesday, and then three Thursdays in a row). For the previous three seasons, both fixtures between the clubs were on midweek dates with the Blues’ 1-1 draw at St James’ Park on Tuesday April 2 when Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted their late equaliser from the penalty spot after going 23 matches without scoring.

Do Premier League bosses in London think “well it’s all the north?” Travelling between Merseyside and Tyneside is at least a six-hour round trip.

Well next season it doesn’t matter as – for now at least – Everton host Newcastle United on Saturday October 5 before travelling to St James’ Park for the final game on Sunday May 25.

Home and away

If you start the season at home, you should really finish it away or vice versa? So you would think but only 12 out of Everton’s last 20 Premier League campaigns have followed such a pattern of equality, although 2024/25 will be one of those with the Blues starting against Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park and finishing at Newcastle United.

With Everton hosting the Seagulls in their 2024/25 opener on August 17, 15 of their last 20 seasons have started at Goodison but with their trip to St James’ Park on the final day means they’ll have only finished at home on eight out of the last 20 occasions, although this latest occurrence is understood to be due to a specific club request.

The 2022/23 season was one of six occasions that the Blues have started and finished the campaign at Goodison over this period along with 2015/16; 2011/12; 2009/10; 2007/08 and 2005/06. In contrast they’ve also had a hat-trick of seasons that both began and ended on the road – 2020/21; 2018/19 and 2013/14 although it must be noted that the first of those was the ‘lockdown’ season played mostly behind closed doors because of coronavirus restrictions, although they did finish in front of a limited number of spectators at champions Manchester City.

Boxing clever

Manchester City have become the first team in English football history to be crowned champions for four consecutive seasons and 2024/25 will be the third consecutive campaign that Everton will have faced Pep Guardiola’s side in between Christmas and New Year.

The Blues are currently due to go to the Etihad on Boxing Day itself whereas last season’s home fixture – a 3-1 defeat – was also originally on December 26 but ended up being moved to the following evening. The year before that, Everton drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium on New Year’s Eve.

Everton’s December 26 fixture away to Manchester City ensures 11 out of their last 20 Boxing Day games have been away. Two were postponed, the trip to Burnley in 2021 due to a coronavirus outbreak and the proposed home match against Birmingham City in 2010 due to frozen pipes bursting at Goodison Park, so those cancellations also even each other out.

Over the prevous 20 seasons, the Blues have twice had the ‘hat-trick’ of home fixtures at the start, Boxing Day and finish of a campaign. These came last season (Chelsea; Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth) and in 2007/08 (Wigan Athletic; Bolton Wanderers; Newcastle United).

Everton have also had a couple of away trebles, in the aforementioned lockdown season of 2020/21 (Tottenham Hotspur; Sheffield United; Manchester City) and 2018/19 (Wolverhampton Wanderers; Burnley; Tottenham Hotspur).