Everton

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on Gareth Southgate's England squad which will be announced today at 14:00 (GMT).

Peter asked: Do you think Southgate will pick the two best-performing English centre-halves in this season? On any statistical basis they are James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite. Or will he just roll out the same old names?

Phil answered: They have been a top-class pairing for Everton this season, as the statistics show, and I think Branthwaite will be an England regular in future, but I’d put money on John Stones and Harry Maguire starting for England in Germany if they are both fit.

Follow McNulty's Q&A here

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From football news reporter Shamoon Hafez:

Everton centre-back Branthwaite is expected to be in Gareth Southgate's provisional squad when it is announced at 14.00 BST.

Branthwaite was a revelation for Everton last season, making 35 league appearances. Everton won 12 matches and kept 12 clean sheets when the 21-year-old was in the side last term.

He was called up for England duty in March, but did not play.

There are about 24 hours to go before Everton's player of the season vote closes.

If you are yet to make your choice, you have until 10:00 BST on Wednesday, 22 May to decide who has impressed you the most from our shortlist.

The candidates have been chosen by fan writer Briony Bragg from This Fan Girl, external.

Find out the reasons behind her selections and make your choice here

Manchester United are interested in 21-year-old Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, and the Toffees could move for 27-year-old Galatasaray and Colombia centre-back Davinson Sanchez as a replacement. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Only the top three sides conceded fewer Premier League goals than Everton in 2023-24 (51). Meanwhile, Arsenal (18) were the only team to keep more clean sheets than the Toffees (13).

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Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from the final 10 games of the Premier League season.

If you missed Sunday's Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

Also, listen back to the two BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-1 West Ham

• Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth

We asked for your opinions on Sunday's Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Everton, which saw the Gunners miss out on the Premier League title.

Here are some of the best responses:

Arsenal fans

Martin: The stress caught up to us and, although we eventually got the win, there was no hope from the Etihad. An incredible effort and an improvement on last season. We just need to make crucial adjustments like a younger defensive midfielder and a striker in the summer, as that will get us the title. Surely Manchester City can't keep it up for a fifth year in a row.

Richard: I think Arsenal have been fantastic all season. We have the best defence, the most clean sheets and the best coach. Arsenal have come short, but this will make them stronger and keep the team together. It will show that Arsenal trust what they have.

Aston: So close yet so far! We have done wonderfully for two season in a row. I feel like we are the only ones who will push Manchester City again next season, so let's see how we keep improving our squad this summer.

Sam: Ultimately, the 11 points dropped by us in December were what cost us the league. In those matches, our lack of potency up front was being scrutinised and, when push comes to shove, I think it is still the area we need to address most over the summer. Havertz has been scintillating since January but we need a natural number nine to get us over the line.

Everton fans

Ifan: Proud of our team! We played well, but Arsenal were hungry for the win. To take the lead and then hold Arsenal for 88 minutes, at their ground, is an achievement. To finish 15th on 40 points, 48 points without points deductions, has made for a relaxing end to the season for us Evertonians. Thank you, Sean Dyche! Roll on 2024-25 season!

Chris: An against the run of play lead, but there was hope that we could've held on for a point. Without the points deduction, a respectable mid-table finish would've been ours and it would've been our best season in four years. Well done to Sean Dyche and the players. Next season may be harder - we could have a nine point deduction to contend with. C'est la vie!

David: Well done to Everton over the past few weeks for surviving relegation. Today's performance was typical of our fighting spirit over the latter part of the season. If not for those eight points deducted, we would've finished 12th overall and that is great credit to Dyche, his staff and the players. Enjoy the summer Evertonians everywhere!

John: I'm looking forward to next season when all of our players will be fit. With a brilliant manager in Sean Dyche, we will be looking for a top-half finish.

Sean Dyche admitted that he hasn't "really been bothered" about the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City this season, following the Toffees' final day defeat to the Gunners.

Everton have faced a number of challenges this season, after being penalised with two points deductions in one campaign, but the English manager still managed to lift the Toffees to a 15th placed finish in the Premier League.

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, Dyche said: "I have had my own challenges, so I haven't really been bothered about [the title race] too much, but it's good for the fans and for the greater good of the Premier League to [have the title decision] go down to today.

"It has been a really, really powerful season for the sides up there. [It was] very exciting [for it to go] all the way down to today.

"I think, deep down, everyone probably thought Manchester City would see it through today, but that is the beauty of football - you never know."

Here are the key facts and figures following Sunday’s game between Arsenal and Everton in the Premier League.

• Arsenal achieved 89 points this season, which is their second most in a single Premier League campaign after the 90 points earned by their title-winning side of 2003-04.

• Everton lost their final Premier League game of the season for the 15th time – no side has done so more in the competition's history.

• William Saliba became the first outfield player to play every minute for Arsenal in a single Premier League campaign.

• Kai Havertz has become the fifth player to register 20 Premier League goal involvements (13 goals, 7 assists) in his debut season with Arsenal, after Thierry Henry in 1999-00 (25), Santi Cazorla in 2012-13 (23), Lukas Podolski in 2012-13 (20) and Alexis Sanchez in 2014-15 (24).

• Idrissa Gueye's opener for Everton was the first direct free-kick goal Arsenal have conceded at home in the Premier League since Philippe Coutinho's strike for Liverpool in their opening game of the 2016-17 campaign.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

In a season where it has felt for Everton fans like them against the world, a controversial VAR decision is perhaps the most appropriate note to end on.

Referee Michael Oliver choosing to disregard the VAR advice to disallow Kai Havertz's winner for a handball in the build-up did not go down well with Everton.

Sean Dyche was furious, perhaps partly due to the decision and in part because it meant his side got nothing from a fine, fighting performance in London.

Everton more than played their part in the day's drama, defending well against Arsenal's dominance of possession before grabbing the opening goal.

Jordan Pickford was in top form, although a few hairy moments between him and Jarrad Branthwaite may give England fans pause for thought ahead of the Euros.

But amid the takeover uncertainty and continued financial worries, there is a spirit and identity to Everton which should provide hope for 2024-25.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal missed out on a first Premier League title since 2004, despite beating Everton, as Manchester City took the glory.

To be crowned champions, the Gunners needed to beat the Toffees and hope City failed to win against West Ham.

Arsenal suffered a setback when Idrissa Gueye's deflected free-kick put Everton in front, although Takehiro Tomiyasu equalised three minutes later.

While Arsenal did eventually hold up their end of the bargain with Kai Havertz's late winner, ultimately City's victory over West Ham took matters out of their hands.

What did you make of the game?

Arsenal fans, were you at the game? How are you feeling after that performance?, external

Everton fans - let us know your post-match thoughts, external

Follow reaction and read the match report

The 2023-24 Premier League season might be drawing to a close, but BBC Sport's dedicated coverage of Everton will be sticking around for the summer.

From transfer gossip to club news to fan views - we have got you covered.

So make sure you don't miss anything by following your club and signing up to notifications straight to your devices.

After that, all you need to do is keep returning to your club's page throughout the summer - simple!

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, with the title winners, European spots and one relegation place still to be confirmed.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Neal Maupay and Sergio Reguilon will return to their respective parent clubs when their loans at Brentford conclude at the end of the Premier League season.

Everton forward Maupay, who scored 41 goals in 95 games for the Bees between 2017 and 2019, rejoined Bees on loan at the beginning of the season.

He has made 30 appearances in all competitions this term and scored eight goals.

Brentford director of football Phil Giles said: "Neal has made a massive contribution to Brentford during both of his spells with the club. He has completely justified the decision to bring him back on loan, contributing important goals and being a key part of the squad.

"Brentford retains the option to bring Neal back permanently if we wish, but we have explained that we will pause that decision for now, having already signed Igor Thiago from Club Brugge."

Left-back Reguilon will return to Tottenham in the summer, having joined Brentford on loan during the January transfer window.

No Ollie Watkins. No Bukayo Saka. No Ederson. So who has made the cut?

Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown talks through his team of the season on the latest episode of The Football News Show.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend’s final games of the season, he takes on Gladiators star Legend.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Sean Dyche is a scrapper and his Everton side are enjoying a strong end to the season. He would like nothing more than to end with a positive result here, but I cannot see past an Arsenal victory.

With 15 wins, one draw and only one defeat from their past 17 Premier League games, the Gunners don't deserve to finish second but that is what is going to happen. Other than the Community Shield, they are going to finish trophyless too.

Arsenal have invited players from their Invincibles side - who remained unbeaten last time they were champions in 2004 - so they will want to put on a show for them.

They should have something to smile about, even if there is no title to celebrate.

Legend's prediction: 5-0

If Spurs had got a result against Manchester City, I think we still would have won this game, but it would have been tighter. The stress would have been outrageous and we might have only won by a goal or two, which would have been a worry if City were only behind us on goal difference.

Now, even though it is not completely over, our players know it kind of is. That takes a lot of the pressure off and this could be an absolute hiding, with Kai Havertz scoring a couple of goals.

Legend on Gunners boss Mikel Arteta: From day one, when I first heard him speak, you could tell he was going to be good, although I didn't think he would be this good.

Even when we are playing badly, you want to get behind the side he has built because they have such amazing team unity. We don't have one megastar and, even though some players are clearly better than others, it feels like the whole squad look at each other as equals, which makes a massive difference. Everyone tracks back and works hard defensively, for example.

Whatever happens this season, Arteta is still young and so are a lot of the team, so you have the feeling that it is only going to get better.

Look at what we have done this year compared to three or four years ago - it is unbelievable. Arteta has created such a positive environment and the club is going in an upward trajectory. This is just the start, hopefully.

Read all of Sutton’s predictions for the final day of the season here

Image source, Getty Images

If you haven't done so already, you have until 10:00 BST on Wednesday, 22 May to cast your vote for Everton's player of the season from our shortlist.

The candidates have been chosen by fan writer Briony Bragg from This Fan Girl, external.

Find out the reasons behind her selections and make your choice here

Image source, Getty Images

Everton defender James Tarkowski says he is "proud" of how the team have dealt with "uncertainty" of the season.

The Toffees have dealt with two points deductions for breaking profit and sustainability rules, which left them fighting for their place in the Premier League.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Friday Football Social, Tarkowski said: "It was tough. It was just the uncertainty of what was going to happen a lot of the time. We got hit with the 10 points out of the blue, then it was about the appeal for so long.

"Then we got the second charge. We got some points back and then we thought we might get some more taken away, so that uncertainty throughout the whole season is difficult to deal with. But I think we have coped with it quite well.

"With everything that has been chucked at us, to get 48 points on the board with one game to go makes me proud of where we have come in a really difficult season."

Tarkowski also praised 35-year-old club captain Seamus Coleman, who has been offered a new contract, for his influence in helping the side get through the difficult season.

"There is just one standout character - Seamus Coleman. If anyone knows him, or has seen him work day to day, it is incredible.

"He is priceless to us for what he brings every day to the team and to the club. Even when he is injured he'll do a speech before the game, or maybe the day before he will galvanise us.

"He is just everything to Everton. He is basically a fan who plays for the club because of how much he does for them. We’ve got a few big characters, but Seamus is the standout one."

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