Everton go to Manchester United on Monday night as the Blues return to action following the international break
James Garner played at right-back against Fulham
James Garner played at right-back against Fulham
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Everton will be seeking to improve their dreadful record at Old Trafford when they head to the home of Manchester United for what is already a fourth Monday night fixture of the season. The Blues have only won one of their last 32 visits to the red side of Manchester, a 1-0 success in December 2013 when Bryan Oviedo scored the only goal and David Moyes was in the home dugout.
Now Moyes returns to his former club for the first time as Everton boss, and he faces some tricky selection decisions as he does so.
Our ECHO writers have channeled their inner Blues boss and picked their XIs for the clash...
Chris Beesley
It’s often said that you shouldn’t change a winning team, but it’s been 16 days since Everton were last in action and in the Premier League you need to be tactically flexible enough to deal with each challenge individually.
Therefore, while much has been made about James Garner being moved into the right-back slot for the 2-0 home win over Fulham last time out, I would like to see the 24-year-old back in his preferred central midfield role against his previous club, Manchester United.
Although Garner is showing himself to be an accomplished and versatile performer wherever David Moyes picks him, having previously done a job as an auxiliary left-back earlier this season when deputising for Vitalii Mykolenko, he is still most comfortable in the engine room where he provides more bite and discipline, traits that could be important when playing at Old Trafford, than Tim Iroegbunam who was deployed there against the Cottagers.Garner’s potential move back into the centre of the park also frees up a space at right-back where the Blues have yet to successfully find a long-term successor for club captain Seamus Coleman.
Given that the 37-year-old started both of the Republic of Ireland’s wins over Portugal and Hungary during the recent international break – as a wing back no less – then perhaps he himself could earn a reprieve.
But personally I would go for the added physicality and stature of his compatriot Jake O’Brien, who has been regular first choice in the role under David Moyes.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Joe Thomas
The loss of Merlin Rohl is a big blow. My hope had been that he would step up his integration into the team after this latest international break - a necessary process given the expected departure of Idrissa Gueye to the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
Rohl's hernia issue deprives David Moyes of that opportunity. It also means it is tougher to consider keeping James Garner at right back.
I'm not convinced it would have been the best option even if Rohl had been fit, but he does offer more going forward there than Jake O'Brien.
For all that, I think this is a game in which Everton have to avoid trying to overthink the line-up. Tim Iroegbunam did well in the win over Fulham but against a team with the quality of Manchester United, I would want my premier central midfield options in their best positions. That means having Garner and Gueye in the middle.
I would drop Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deeper to try and maintain and protect possession and operate with a truer centre midfield three than playing with a 10.
My hope would be that Dewsbury-Hall could help spring Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish forward, and I would definitely start Thierno Barry given the progress it felt his performance against Fulham represented.
At the back, there is an argument to give Seamus Coleman a go at right back but in this case I would have O'Brien there because I think he can be solid and a really useful option in both boxes at set-pieces.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry