Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker (R) kisses Manchester City's English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish as they celebrate after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 19, 2024.placeholder image
Manchester City's English defender #02 Kyle Walker (R) kisses Manchester City's English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish as they celebrate after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 19, 2024. | AFP via Getty Images
Everton will be hoping to look up the table rather than over their shoulders next season
Brighton and Hove Albion are the first visitors to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Moyes revived Everton’s fortunes last season as the Toffees enjoyed some impressive form in the second half of the campaign, capping the season with a 1-0 win at Champions League-bound Newcastle United.
Moyes has spoken of his ambitions to get the Toffees into Europe, replicating the success he had at West Ham. There are poised to be some changes to the squad with it already confirmed the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate and Neal Maupay will depart. As Everton get on with their transfer business, we look at how they could line-up on the opening day against Leeds if they get their desired targets through the door.
Goalkeeper and defence
James Tarkowski has been a solid defender since moving to Merseyside and Everton will hope to have Jarrad Branthwaite alongside him in the heart of defence. The 22-year-old is attracting admiring glances from across the Premier League but the Toffees will not let him go easily. Vitaliy Mykolenko was in the starting XI for 92 per cent of Premier League games last term and is likely to retain his place.
He is approaching the final year of his contract, however, something Everton will need to solve sooner than later after seeing a number of contracts expire this summer.
Midfield and attack
Idrissa Gana Gueye is out of contract in less than two weeks but he has been offered a new deal by the club. He is attracting interest from France but the Toffees are keen to keep him having already seen Doucoure depart.
James Garner is poised to retain his spot in the base of midfield while further forward Carlos Alcaraz will have a part to play next season after Everton triggered the option to buy the midfielder from Brazilian side Flamengo. Iliman Ndiaye enjoyed an impressive first year at Everton with nine goals in 33 Premier League games.
Everton possible line-up v Leeds United: Pickford; Walker, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Grealish, Alcaraz, Ndiaye; Barry.
Continue Reading