Domestic football returns after the international break with Everton travelling to face Manchester City on Saturday.
The Toffees are coming off the back of an impressive win against Crystal Palace, as they ended the Eagles’ 19-game unbeaten streak.
Playing against Manchester City on any given day is a tough task, but this weekend David Moyes will have to do so without Jack Grealish.
The winger is ineligible to face his former side due to loan rules, and Pep Guardiola has spoken about Grealish’s form at Everton.
With him unavailable, the Blues manager will have to find a solution to replace the 30-year-old, guaranteeing at least one change from the team that beat Crystal Palace, but there could be more.
Here is Everton’s predicted XI to play Manchester City as David Moyes makes three changes to his side.
Everton manager David Moyes.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Everton’s predicted XI vs Man City
Jack Grealish’s ineligibility means one change is guaranteed for Everton against Man City.
The absence of their talisman opens the door for Carlos Alcaraz to start, who impressed after coming off the bench against Crystal Palace.
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Additionally, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has served his one-game suspension and is likely to return to the fray, with Dibling coming out of the side.
It is a difficult choice up top for David Moyes, with both Beto and Thierno Barry in poor form; however, Moyes’ pre-match comments gave a hint on who will play.
The Everton boss indicated recent games have not benefitted Beto, saying, “Maybe the way we’re playing, we’ve had more of the ball, we’re playing slightly different now, so maybe he hasn’t had as much room to run into behind.”
With Manchester City likely to have much more possession, it seems plausible that Moyes will see this as a perfect game for the Portuguese striker, and he’ll start in place of Barry.
Everton predicted XI to face Manchester City
Everton predicted XI to face Manchester City
Carlos Alcaraz has chance to prove himself
It will be a big game for Carlos Alcaraz, who, after he was said to have changed the game against Palace, deserves to start.
After his recent display, it would be a surprise to see the Argentine be snubbed, especially with Grealish not available.
The player has started just one match this season, getting 86 minutes in the opening game loss against Leeds United.
With another strong performance against Man City, this could be the game to really get his career going on Merseyside and be the first of many starts for Alcaraz.