Everton start off the 2026-27 Premier League campaign tomorrow against the holders of the Europa Conference League trophy Crystal Palace.
Yet another transfer window is winding to a close and we are still no closer to finding a starting calibre right back. After an indifferent start to the preseason, Everton looked a lot more coherent in their closing displays against Newcastle and then LOSC Lille, despite the absence of key players like James Garner.
The Toffees have made some additions however to
beef up their squad – midfielder Hayden Hackney joined first, with the loans of Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl then being made permanent. Next in was defensive midfielder Christian Nørgaard followed by winger Brennan Johnson in a swap with the Eagles.
Opponents Palace have had a lot of upheaval this summer, starting with the departure of manager Oliver Glasner. They also lost central defender Maxence Lacroix who moved to Chelsea for big money, and winger Brennan Johnson who came to the Toffees. Among the incomings they added Zavier Gozo (Winger/Attacker from Real Salt Lake), Oscar Mingueza (Defender/RB on a free from Celta Vigo), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Defender on a free transfer), Dwight McNeil (Winger from Everton), Evann Guessand (Forward on loan from Aston Villa) and Anan Khalaili (Right-sided player/wing-back from Union Saint-Gilloise. Their starting right back Daniel Munoz apparently has been a target of Moyes’, so we’ll see if the Blues make a deadline day move for him as well.
Who’s Out?
The Blues are minus three midfielders for the season opener tomorrow, with Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and summer signing Christian Nørgaard all out.
Everton squad available vs Crystal Palace
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Branthwaite, Keane, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Garner (DOUBTFUL), Hackney, Iroegbunam (INJURED), Nørgaard (INJURED), Röhl,
Wingers: Alcaraz, Dibling, George, Johnson, Ndiaye.
Strikers: Beto, Barry.
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely go in the 4-1-4-1 that we’ve seen during the preseason, with Hackney in the DM role, and Rohl slotting in at right back where he’s looked useful. George has been lively and should get the start, and Barry has been the better striker, so he should also start the game.
Starting XI
Jordan Pickford
Vitaliy Mykolenko – Hopefully he’s worked out all his gaffes for the year during the preseason.
Jarrad Branthwaite
James Tarkowski
Merlin Rohl – Rohl is not the long-term solution, but has been more effective here than O’Brien has.
Hayden Hackney – He’s not a CDM, but hasn’t looked out of place holding the fort until Garner returns.
Iliman Ndiaye
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Harrison Armstrong – One of Everton’s best players during the preseason.
Tyrique George – It might be close between George and Tyler Dibling to start.
Thierno Barry – Same here between Barry and Beto, though the former was clearly better in preseason while the latter is a notoriously slow starter.
Bench
Mark Travers
Adam Aznou
Michael Keane
Jake O’Brien
James Garner – The gaffer did indicate that the midfielder is close to returning
Charly Alcaraz
Tyler Dibling
Brennan Johnson – Should be on the bench and could come on if needed
Beto
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One of the defenders has to miss out, and in this case it’ll likely be Nathan Patterson with Moyes usually bringing on O’Brien if reinforcements are needed at right back.
