Everton have now discovered who they will be playing in their first Premier League game of the 2025/26 season.
David Moyes will be taking his side on a trip to Yorkshire as Everton will face Leeds United for the curtain-raiser.
A big summer awaits Everton, who will need to bring in a host of new faces following the contractual departures on Merseyside.
The Friedkins are financing a big transfer window for Everton, with the Toffees needing to add both quality and quantity over the coming months.
With the fixtures now released, Everton News has taken a look at how Moyes could field his first starting XI of the season.
Jack Grealish during Manchester City FC v Crystal Palace FC - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
GK – Jordan Pickford
This goes without saying, but Jordan Pickford will start between the sticks for Everton barring any injury issues over the summer.
Jamie Carragher hailed Pickford as Everton’s best player, and the England number one’s stock grew even further over the recent international break.
RB – Jake O’Brien
Everton are keen to sign Kyle Walker this summer to add some experience for the departing Ashley Young.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
Although Walker has won almost everything, it is going to take some doing to uproot Jake O’Brien from the starting XI after a seriously impressive second half of the 2024/25 term.
CB – James Tarkowski & Jarrad Branthwaite
Although Everton are keen to sign a new defender, there will also be no change in the starting centre-back spots with James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite keeping their place.
Branthwaite is receiving interest from Tottenham Hotspur, which could prove the only change being forced upon Moyes at centre-back.
LB – Vitaliy Mykolenko
Again, Everton are looking to add a new left-back to provide Vitaliy Mykolenko with some competition for his spot at left-back.
Kyle Walker-Peters is being eyed by Everton but whether he could land on Merseyside and immediately claim the starting spot is another matter.
CM – Idrissa Gana Gueye and Habib Diarra
Everton are hoping Idrissa Gana Gueye will sign a new contract and extend his future beyond this summer.
New additions are going to be needed regardless, though.
Habib Diarra is being eyed by Everton as an option and Leeds United have handed the Blues a real opportunity after struggling to convince the player.
RW – Iliman Ndiaye
Iliman Ndiaye really impressed Gary Neville last season in what was a stunning return to the Premier League for the Senegal international.
Although Ndiaye wowed, if a big addition is added he could be seen as more capable of succeeding on the other side of the pitch.
Ndiaye would certainly provide more attacking threat than what Everton had at right-wing last season with Jack Harrison.
CAM – Carlos Alcaraz
This is definitely a position which is up for grabs this summer between Carlos Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil.
Alcaraz has now been signed permanently and impressed Moyes towards the end of the season.
However, McNeil played consistently when fit and will put up a strong battle for the starting spot in the starting XI over pre-season.
LW – Jack Grealish
It is perhaps the most exciting piece of transfer speculation this summer, but Everton are keen to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City.
A loan move may be the most realistic option for the Blues to land the 29-year-old Englishman.
Given the finances involved, Grealish would slot into Everton’s starting XI and he may be given the biggest opportunity to shine by playing at left-wing.
ST – Thierno Barry
Another position which is there for the taking this summer is at striker.
Everton are showing interest in Thierno Barry, with Villarreal holding out for his release clause to be met by the Toffees.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin set to depart Everton, any new striker will be coming up against Beto for the spot in the starting XI.