A look at the potential changes to the starting XI that manager David Moyes could make for Everton's game at Manchester United
Everton have now got another fortnight before they return to action against Manchester United. But will manager David Moyes be tempted to make any changes for the trip to Old Trafford?
For the third time this season, the Blues have gone into an international break on the back of a victory with their 2-0 win over Fulham following the dramatic stoppage-time 2-1 comeback against Crystal Palace and the 3-2 success at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With Michael Keane continuing to dominate at both ends of the pitch, helping Moyes’ men to a first clean sheet since September 13 while helping himself to a second goal of the season, the former Red Devils academy graduate looks set to continue in the heart of defence given thatJarrad Branthwaite is facing a prolonged period on the sidelines following his operation to cure a hamstring problem.
Captain James Tarkowski, himself a boyhood Man United fan, would be expected to line-up alongside Keane but the pair of them do have competition from Jake O’Brien now that the Republic of Ireland international was taken out of the side at right-back against Fulham.
Will the 6ft 6in star be restored to the starting XI against Ruben Amorim’s outfit, and if so, will it be in the wide defensive berth he’s occupied for most of Moyes’ tenure but relinquished to James Garner– another United old boy – last time out.
Another option would be to bring O’Brien back in at right-back while moving Garner over to left-back, where he has filled in for Vitalii Mykolenko this term, but that has only been when the Ukraine international is unavailable.
If Garner is not to be brought back into central midfield, opportunities again open up in the engine room alongside Idrissa Gueye, who like Keane, netted for the second time this season against the Cottagers.
Tim Iroegbunam got the nod in the previous game but Merlin Rohl, a transfer deadline day acquisition from Freiburg on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy next summer, will also be pushing hard.
Further forward, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, whose corner was met by Keane for the second goal while being one of three Everton players to have an effort ruled out for offside, enjoyed his best display in several weeks against Fulham, which could hamper Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes for a recall in a central attacking midfield role.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference to preview that fixture, Moyes explained that Tyler Dibling is finding it hard to get minutes because Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye are both ahead of him in the pecking order and given the pair’s continued good form, it’s a point that is hard to argue with.
Up front, Thierno Barry has started the last two games and despite his wait for a first goal continuing, the France Under-21 international produced arguably his most encouraging display in a royal blue jersey to date against Fulham, so at the moment he’d seem to have the edge over Beto when it comes to spearheading the attack at United.