A look at the changes to the starting 11 that David Moyes could make for Everton's game against Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Both Beto and Thierno Barry scored in Everton’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park, so David Moyes has a dilemma over who is going to spearhead the attack against Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday. Making his first Premier League start since the goalless draw against the Clarets on December 27, Beto fired the Blues back in front after Jarrad Branthwaite’s headed opener had been cancelled out by Jacob Ramsey.
However, the Guinea-Bissau international was then guilty of a glaring miss when presented with the opportunity to put the visitors 3-1 up in the second half. With Jacob Murphy then netting a second deflected equaliser for the Magpies, it was up to Beto’s replacement Barry to save his bacon by putting Moyes’ men ahead for a third time with a finish that went into the net off his backside.
While Iliman Ndiaye, who was back on form on Tyneside, looks a shoo-in for one of the wide attacking berths, there is plenty of competition when it comes to who will get the nod as Everton’s other winger.
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Dwight McNeil will be hoping to start against the club where he started his career after being picked for the first time since his move to Crystal Palace collapsed against Eddie Howe’s side.
However, there are also other wide men pushing for a place in the shape of Tyrique George, who did make a deadline day transfer between Merseyside and London, moving in the opposite direction from Chelsea on loan, and Tyrique George, who was the Blues’ most expensive signing last summer, plus Harrison Armstrong who has been deployed on the flanks of late.
If the teenage prospect does not get the nod in that role, he could also come in to play in a more central midfield berth but the competition there is also fierce with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Garner and Idrissa Gueye the incumbent trio, not to mention Tim Iroegbunam and Merlin Rohl who were both named among the substitutes against Newcastle United, but unlike the West Derby protege, didn’t get on to the pitch off the bench.
In defence, Moyes reverted to what has typically been his first choice back four when everyone is available of Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, but they were of course breached twice, and it could have easily been three times had Jordan Pickford not made his spectacular stoppage time save to tip Sandro Tonali’s volleyed effort on to the crossbar.
Waiting in reserve are centre-back Michael Keane, who Moyes seems to hold a significant amount of trust in, and right-back Nathan Patterson, of who appears not to.
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