After a brutal start at Leeds United last weekend, Everton might not necessarily be in a better place this weekend for their historic first ever league game at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The visitors on Sunday will be Brighton & Hove Albion who hadn’t lost in their last four visits to Goodison Park, but what remains to be seen is how David Moyes and the players respond to the humbling at Elland Road.
Who’s Out?
Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaliy Mykolenko are still not fit, and neither is Nathan Patterson. Adam Aznou
only just started training on Friday, so might not be ready to start either, which would mean the Blues could be unchanged from Monday night.
Everton squad available vs Brighton
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko (INJURED), Coleman, Patterson (INJURED), Aznou (DOUBT)
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish, Alcaraz
Attackers: Beto, Barry, Chermiti
Tactics and Formation
Everton used a lopsided 4-2-3-1 against Leeds with James Garner staying home at the left back position and Jake O’Brien a bit further forward on the opposite flank. However, the midfield pairing of Idrissa Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam were swamped by the high press and it was not until the second half when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall retreated a bit more were Everton able to establish a foothold in the middle of the park.
Against Brighton’s 4-2-3-1, especially against the dynamic Carlos Baleba and Matt O’Riley, Everton will have to make sure they keep the midfield busy and congested to avoid getting run over. Iroegbunam in particular kept getting caught out of position and was chasing shadows all evening.
The question is – will Moyes deem Aznou fit to start at left back, thereby allowing Garner to go next to Gueye where he is usually more effective in front of the defence. In that case, will Jack Grealish get the start on the left, and which of Charly Alcaraz and Dewsbury-Hall gets the hook?
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 10/10
James Garner – 9/10
Michael Keane – 8/10 Keane had a good game on Monday, much as many would hate to admit it.
James Tarkowski– 10/10
Jake O’Brien – 9/10 Will have to be particularly wary against the speedy Mitoma
Idrissa Gana Gueye – 10/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 8/10 KDH had a quite game but will play again, the question is where?
Jack Grealish – 6/10 Surely Moyes has to give him some minutes sooner than later
Carlos Alcaraz – 7/10 Charly is at his best when playing through the middle, and only there.
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10
Beto – 9/10 He’s at his most effective when he can run onto a pass, but for that the Blues will need midfield possession.
Bench
Mark Travers
Tyler Onyango – The only centrehalf cover for this squad
Adam Aznou
Seamus Coleman – The captain has previously played left back in a pinch but cannot be trusted against the speedy Minteh
Tim Iroegbunam
Harrison Armstrong
Dwight McNeil
Thierno Barry
Youssef Chermiti
