Everton have begun work on the construction of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock after taking possession of the site from the City of Liverpool. The club are planning to build a 52,888-seater venue to bring the Toffees into line with the elite clubs in the Premier League and the rest of Europe having outgrown their home at Goodison Park.

Goodison has been Everton’s home since 1892, but in the modern era it is a relic compared to its counterparts. Although Liverpool have remained at Anfield, the Reds have made significant upgrades to their grand old stadium to bring it into line with the other top clubs on the continent.

The belief that creating a new stadium will allow Everton to compete with the best in the Premier League for the title is the driving factor behind the move from Farhad Moshiri and the Toffees’ board. However, there are no guarantees that it will be a success, and the club and Moshiri will be pouring significant resources of around £500m into the ground, while their team on the field still requires improvements just to reach a Europa League place.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, Everton finished 10th in the 2020/21 campaign, and following the Italian’s departure to Real Madrid, new manager Rafael Benitez faces a massive challenge to drive the team forwards. Their odds to finish in the top six here at Space Casino are 5.00 for the new season, which is not overly encouraging for the Toffees and their bid to take steps forward before their move to Bramley-Moore. Moshiri will want the club to be in the top six before moving to the new ground, which could come as soon as 2024.

Even then there are challenges for Everton. Arsenal were hopeful of a new dawn when they moved to the Emirates in 2007 after leaving Highbury. However, the Gunners have taken dramatic steps backward rather than forward. In their final years at Highbury, Arsenal were perennial contenders for the Premier League crown and a force in the Champions League. Since their move to the Emirates, they’ve declined significantly and are now locked in a top-six battle rather than a push for the title. It is argued that the move to the Emirates Stadium has been a curse on the Gunners rather than a blessing.

Tottenham spent almost a £1bn on moving to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when it finally opened its doors in 2019, almost a year behind schedule. Although it is early days for Spurs in their new home, they appear no closer to challenging for the Premier League title than during their days at White Hart Lane. It is a massive gamble on the part of Everton to commit resources to moving from Goodison Park, although there is a massive need to upgrade their facilities. The notion that moving to Bramley-Moore will bring success is far from the truth, if anything Everton supporters may have to prepare themselves for familiar issues challenging for the European places even in a state-of-the-art stadium.