Everton take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend, but David Moyes will be without midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Everton drew 1-1 with West Ham United on Monday night after failing to build on Michael Keane’s opener.
The Toffees were a little flat during parts of Monday’s draw and must now hit back against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall won’t be available for Everton, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against West Ham.
Everton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Everton’s Carlos Alcaraz has already shown his quality against Crystal Palace
Dewsbury-Hall’s yellow card was absolutely ridiculous, and he will be missed as the number 10 in Everton’s midfield.
Moyes now faces a difficult decision in terms of replacing Dewsbury-Hall in midfield.
Michael Ball thinks Iliman Ndiaye should play on the left flank, potentially paving the way for Jack Grealish to play centrally.
Moyes has been told to consider using Carlos Alcaraz, and the Argentinian will be a strong contender to replace Dewsbury-Hall.
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Moyes may even recall that Alcaraz destroyed Palace as a number 10 last season.
Alcaraz played in Beto to open scoring in a 2-1 victory, before slotting home the winner with a calm finish inside the box.
Alcaraz impressed Moyes on that night, and he will surely be desperate to take Palace down once again this weekend.
That performance came just weeks into Alcaraz’s loan spell at Everton, and the Toffees signed him permanently in the hope of similar displays in the future.
We are yet to really see that on a consistent basis, but Alcaraz may hope to really kickstart his season against Palace once again.
Carlos Alcaraz may have questions about his Everton role if he doesn’t start against Crystal Palace.
Alcaraz started in Everton’s defeat at Leeds United on the opening weekend of the season, but has struggled for action since.
The 22-year-old has managed just 32 minutes of Premier League action since the opening day.
Dewsbury-Hall’s absence means somebody must step up, and Moyes is reluctant to throw Tyler Dibling into the side.
That means Alcaraz should be in line for an appearance, and he may just begin to question his Everton role if he doesn’t start against Palace.
Dewsbury-Hall has slotted in as Everton’s number 10, with Alcaraz seemingly serving as his backup in the Toffees squad.
Alcaraz will therefore expect to start against Palace, or he may just wonder why he joined Everton permanently.