A look at the changes David Moyes could make to the starting 11 for Everton's next game against Liverpool
Beto is challenged by Tyrone Mings during the match between Everton and Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 13, 2025
Beto is challenged by Tyrone Mings during the match between Everton and Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 13, 2025
(Image: Marc Atkins - Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
The question over who spearheads the Everton attack against Liverpool is arguably the biggest selection dilemma for David Moyes as he prepares for next Saturday’s Merseyside Derby at Anfield.
After goals in his previous two outings, Beto got the nod against Aston Villa, but despite getting himself into good scoring positions on several occasions, he proceeded to miss a string of chances before making way for Thierno Barry 15 minutes from the end.
The France Under-21 international had an inviting opening of his own late on when played through on goal but he too couldn’t make it count as he still waits to break his duck after a £27million summer switch from Villarreal.
Beto would appear favourite at this stage to retain his spot given his increased Premier League experience which includes giving Arne Slot’s centre-backs a torrid time in the corresponding fixture last season on what was another occasion that he should have scored but didn’t, striking the base of Caoimhin Kelleher’s post after capitalising on a mistake from Virgil van Dijk.
Will Moyes bank on the Guinea-Bissau international ruffling the Reds’ defenders’ feathers again or freshen things up with the surprise element that his rookie could bring?
Elsewhere, the shape of the team could depend on whether Vitalii Mykolenko – whose injury niggles started after going off in a Merseyside Derby last year when Everton defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Goodison Park on April 24, 2024 – is able to return at left-back.
When asked after the goalless draw with Aston Villa about Mykolenko’s chances of being fit having withdrawn from international duty with Ukraine, Moyes insisted: “I have no idea yet.”
Going off in the Blues’ final pre-season friendly at home to Roma, the former Dynamo Kyiv man was sidelined for the games against Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion – when James Garner deputised for him – before returning to play against Mansfield Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but if he continues to miss out, the converted central midfielder who reprised the role against Unai Emery’s side looks set to be deployed there rather than teenage understudy left-back Adam Aznou. Whoever gets the nod, it is a daunting task going up directly against Liverpool’s long-time star player Mohamed Salah.
Depending on where Garner ends up, there could be a first start in the engine room for transfer deadline day signing Merlin Rohl who came on as a 66th minute substitute for Tim Iroegbunam as the German looks to be pushing the former Aston Villa midfielder for a starting berth alongside Idrissa Gueye.
Everton now appear to be well-stocked in the attacking midfield areas but with Charly Alcaraz, Dwight McNeil and the biggest signing of the summer Tyler Dibling all left on the bench against the West Midlanders, the incumbent trio of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye look set to continue with Moyes namechecking the latter pair as being “fantastic” in his opinion last time out.