Returning Everton manager David Moyes has been tipped to turn Goodison Park into “a fortress” again for the remainder of the Blues’ historic final season at their home since 1892.

Everton won just two of their home fixtures in the first half of 2024/25 under Sean Dyche (2-1 against Crystal Palace and 4-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers) but that’s a feat that Moyes has already matched by defeating Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 and Leicester City 4-0 as part of a hat-trick of consecutive victories with a side that had previously not triumphed in back-to-back fixtures all term before his appointment.

With the Blues now nine points clear of the relegation zone with a far super goal difference on the clubs in the bottom three plus a game in hand – next Wednesday’s final Premier League Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park – Louis Saha who played under Moyes at Everton first time around, has tipped his former gaffer to get the best out of ‘The Grand Old Lady’ as the Scot looks to utilise the power of the ground that has staged the most top flight matches in English football before she closes her doors for the final time in May.

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Writing in his programme notes before last Saturday’s drubbing of the Foxes, a game that saw Abdoulaye Doucoure opening the scoring with the fastest goal from an Everton player in the club’s 147-year history, Moyes said: “Last time we were here against Tottenham, people have told me that for 45 minutes Goodison felt like a very different place to how it has been.

“We are not here for too much longer now and I think it's important that we all play our part in the next few months. Some weeks it will be enough, other weeks it may not be, but we will guarantee we will do everything we can to give this great stadium the send off it deserves.”

It’s a spirit that Saha, who netted 35 goals in 115 games for Everton between 2008-12, including one after just 25 seconds in the 2009 FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley, having been signed by Moyes from Manchester United, is well aware of. Speaking to spaceportsweden.com, the Parisian said: “I was really excited to see David Moyes, my old Everton manager, go back to Goodison Park.

“You can see straight away that he has made them more solid and has brought an element of aggression to the team, while also asking for more from his attacking players.

“When you’re in a team like Everton, you have to understand that you’re not going to create 10-15 chances to score goals because of the quality you have, so you have to be hard to beat and you need your players to be completely dedicated to the defensive side of the game and to take their opportunities when they come. That is exactly what David Moyes has done at every single club he has managed.”

Saha, 46, added: “From my experience working with him, I can tell you that he is a man with a real passion for football. He wants his teams to build a connection with the fans by giving absolutely everything for the badge.

“That’s the minimum he demands. He wants to create a hostile environment when his teams play at home, and when I was there, there wasn’t a single team in the Premier League that enjoyed coming to Goodison.

“That's the Moyes formula. I think his appointment is very good for the club.

“I think Everton now has a better version of David Moyes after all of his other experiences managing in the Premier League and in Spain. He has definitely improved as manager since the last time he was there. I'm really excited for Everton with him in charge.”