Fixture congestion is starting to build up in the Premier League with a midweek round of games starting today. Expect Everton’s threadbare squad to be fully tested in this situation, with injuries and suspension making choices more difficult for manager David Moyes. The difference in quality between the starting XI and the rest of the squad could force his hand when looking to rotate the lineup.
The Toffees’ defensive shortcomings were brutally exposed by Newcastle on Saturday at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and now they travel to AFC Bournemouth who have in recent years become the Blues’ kryptonite. Everton have four straight defeats against Andoni Iraola, and have actually never won away at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League.
Moyes has no new injury concerns after the weekend, while Iraola will be a short a few players too. Lewis Cook, Marcos Senesi and David Brooks are all serving suspensions while Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring) and Ryan Christie (knee) are out.
Who’s Out?
Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Merlin Röhl (hernia), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Nathan Patterson (foot/hernia) are all out, while Idrissa Gueye is serving the second game of his three-game suspension.
Everton squad available vs Bournemouth
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson (INJURED), Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye (SUSPENDED), Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl (INJURED)
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish, Dibling, Alcaraz
Strikers: 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 – 8/10
Jake O’Brien - 8/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 9/10 KDH is our most in-form player but the need for him to drop back into midfield is greater right now.
James Garner - 9/10
Jack Grealish – 8/10
Carlos Alcaraz - 7/10 Always better on the right, but the Blues will need him in the middle here. Came very close to scoring against Newcastle too.
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10
Thierno Barry – 7/10 The striker is getting closer and closer (and closer) to his first Everton goal
Mark Travers
Tom King - When was a third goalie ever needed?
Adam Aznou
Tim Iroegbunam - Was atrocious when given the start. Is best in spot duty as a second half sub, deployed far upfield away from his own box.
Dwight McNeil - Being linked with a January move to Wolves.
Tyler Dibling
Under-21 Player 1 (Centre half Reece Welch last time around)
Under-21 Player 2 (Centre half Elijah Campbell last time around)