Our Everton writers select their line-ups for tonight's Premier League encounter against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
David Moyes has limited options for Everton's trip to Bournemouth
David Moyes has limited options for Everton's trip to Bournemouth(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
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Everton make the journey to bogey club Bournemouth tonight looking to bounce back from their disappointing home defeat to Newcastle United. While most Evertonians would have taken three points from the trip to Manchester United and the visit of the Magpies, the nature of the loss in that latter match stung.
While Newcastle are further down the road in their development than the Blues, there was no getting away from the fact that the 4-1 loss hurt and went some way to dampening the feel-good factor that surged through the fan base following the heroic 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
So, to Bournemouth, and a place where Everton have not won since February 2016 and which holds jarring memories for supporters.
Can David Moyes inspire another win at a stadium that has been the opposite of a happy hunting ground for too long now? However, the issue facing the Blues boss is the fact that his squad is shorn of key players in defence and midfield.
So how does Moyes line-up? Our writers have their say...
Joe Thomas
Newcastle gave Everton an almighty reality check after that incredible win at Old Trafford. There was a danger it could happen, for all the Magpies have struggled away from home they have a squad that has been developed over more transfer cycles than Everton under their new ownership and with the visitors looking so strong in central midfield and on the wings, they were primed to hit the hosts where they are weakest.
I fear tonight could also be tough. Yes, some of that is the emotional scarring of repeated hellish trips to Bournemouth. I’ve spent too much of my life in a huff at Warwick services after a demoralising defeat at the Vitality. To avoid the same fate, the Blues will have to put together a better display against an opponent that have looked good this season while again playing without the suspended Idrissa Gueye - given the injuries in the squad his absence looks to be the straw that broke the camel’s back and leave David Moyes with too much to cover.
The Cherries are not infallible though and Everton have shown they can be resolute and defiant when they have something to protect.
Tonight, I would bring in Carlos Alcaraz for Tim Iroegbunam, who struggled at the weekend and maybe better suited off the bench if this game becomes stretched or if the Blues need some energy later in the game.
Alcaraz produced a fine, match-winning display from midfield at Crystal Palace in February and showed he can operate deeper at Brentford and Wolves last season, too.
I would play a flat three in the middle, bringing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deeper to add a body and some intelligence on the ball. He, James Garner and Alcaraz all have fight in them and if they can be disciplined then I think the Blues can compete against Tyler Adams and Adam Scott.
Thierno Barry has improved steadily and maybe tonight can finally be the time he gets off the mark - that would certainly help.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Ndiaye, Garner, Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Chris Beesley
To Tim or not to Tim? That is the question for David Moyes as Everton head down to Bournemouth.
Despite the Vitality Stadium holding just a mere 11,307 fans, making it smaller than the Blues’ League Two Merseyside neighbours Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park or even just the South Stand at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the Cherries’ tiny home has not proven a happy hunting ground for Everton who have never won there in the Premier League with two draws and six defeats.
David Moyes is also painfully short of options in the middle of the park as he looks to end that sequence – personally the Scot has never been beaten there in the Premier League.
This would have been the ideal opportunity for transfer deadline day signing Merlin Rohl to show whether he has any magic in his boots but the Germany Under-21 international is unable to take what could have been his big chance because of the regrettable timing of an injury that has seen him undergo a hernia operation.
Instead, with Idrissa Gueye serving the second game of his three-match ban, the Blues are looking to avoid the soft centre that cost them dearly in the 4-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United last time out.
On an evening when almost everyone in the hosts’ line-up had an off day, Tim Iroegbunam, deputising for the suspended Senegal international, endured a nightmare first half, with his mistakes leading to both the second and third goals, before he got hooked by Moyes at the interval. The Glaswegian gaffer has precious few alternatives, but personally I’ll go with the line-up that I stated should have started against the Magpies.
I’d take Iroegbunam out after that display and put Charly Alcaraz in. Initially I thought of putting the Argentinian in the number 10 role and dropping Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall deep, like against Manchester United, but after two goals in as many games, perhaps the former Chelsea man should be the more advanced of the pair?
Maybe they could even alternate throughout the contest? It might be good for Everton to display a capacity for in-game changes and mixing it up.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Alcaraz; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.