David Moyes has some big decisions to make when Everton face Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson this afternoon.
Friday’s press conference brought some welcome news on the fitness front, with Christian Nørgaard the only confirmed absentee and no fresh problems reported.
The bigger questions concern Everton’s Deadline Day arrivals and how Moyes reshapes his side following Iliman Ndiaye’s departure.
And we’ve changed our mind on one of them.
Everton predicted XI v Man United
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
No debate here. Pickford starts.
Defence: Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko
Yesterday we took a punt on Ainsley Maitland-Niles making an immediate debut at right-back. We’re going the other way now.
Maitland-Niles only arrived on Deadline Day, and O’Brien offers some continuity in a defence that has conceded just once in its opening two Premier League games.
Tarkowski and Branthwaite should continue together, with Mykolenko on the left.
Midfield: James Garner, Harrison Armstrong
This is probably our toughest call. Hayden Hackney is a genuine contender and it would be no surprise whatsoever if Moyes hands him a first Premier League start.
But Garner and Armstrong have started both league games together and, in a team already being reshuffled elsewhere, we’re backing Moyes to retain that partnership. Only just.
Attacking midfield: Brennan Johnson, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish
Here’s the big change from yesterday. We initially thought Moyes might keep faith with Tyrique George and introduce Grealish from the bench.
Now we’re backing Grealish to start. He knows Moyes. He knows most of this Everton team. He knows the Hill Dickinson.
And after everything that happened on Deadline Day, his return would give the whole place a lift. Johnson looks the obvious candidate to take Ndiaye’s place on the right, with Dewsbury-Hall through the middle.
Striker: Thierno Barry
This one pretty much picks itself. Beto has gone, the Balogun deal collapsed and Barry is now Everton’s main senior centre-forward. He’s also coming off a hat-trick against Preston in the Carabao Cup.
Our predicted Everton XI
Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Three calls could easily make this look silly by 1pm.
Maitland-Niles for O’Brien is one. Hackney for Armstrong is another. And George could retain his place if Moyes decides Grealish is better used from the bench.
But we’re changing yesterday’s prediction in two places.
O’Brien stays. And Grealish starts.
After the week Everton have just had, seeing him back in royal blue when the teams emerge this afternoon would certainly give the Hill Dickinson something to shout about.
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