After just one win in their last seven games, the pressure is starting to mount on David Moyes. Everton have looked very limited and pretty easy to beat as the season has progressed. The manager’s rigidity on his squad selections and obstinance in changing formations or tactics has become very prominent in recent weeks, and anything but a resounding win on Saturday against former Blues manager Marco Silva will only increase the clamor for his sacking.
Who’s Out?
Per David Moyes in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson are both out after surgery.
Everton squad available vs Fulham
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson (INJURED), Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall , Röhl
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish, Dibling, Alcaraz
Attackers: Beto, Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stick to the 4-2-3-1 they’ve used so far.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 7/10
Michael Keane – 9/10
James Tarkowski – 7/10 Tarky’s spot should legitimately be under risk, but who will challenge him?
Jake O’Brien - 7/10 JOB should be playing at centrehalf, but Moyes appears petrified to play Coleman or Garner out at right back.
Idrissa Gueye – 8/10
James Garner - 8/10
Jack Grealish – 9/10
Carlos Alcaraz - 6/10 Surely Moyes has start Charly here?!
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10 Looks to have recovered from his knock.
Thierno Barry – 7/10 Barry looked better than Beto, but was yanked for his petulant booking.
Mark Travers
Adam Aznou
Seamus Coleman
Tim Iroegbunam - His energy has been good when he comes on as a sub, but needs more than just five minutes at the end of the game.
Merlin Rohl - When will Moyes play Rohl from the start? After Gana has gone to AFCON, when he will no other choice? Bingo!!
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - The midfielder has gotten stale and needs to sit.
Dwight McNeil - No idea why he got brought on last week because all he did was show he’s washed.
Tyler Dibling