Our writers have their say on who should start for Everton in their Premier League clash against Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium this evening
Everton line-ups for Chelsea as James Tarkowski and James Garner decisions made
James Tarkowski could return for Everton against Chelsea while England new boy James Garner could be utilised in a different position (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
View 2 Images
Everton return to Premier League action this evening when they welcome Chelsea to Hill Dickinson Stadium (5.30pm). Second-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman condemned the Blues to a 2-0 defeat to leaders Arsenal at the Emirates last time out.
But David Moyes’ side will be looking to make it back-to-back wins on home soil against the reigning world champions after beating Burnley 2-0 in their last outing in front of their supporters. However, the Blues could be without both James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite for tonight's match.
And ahead of the game, our writers have picked the XIs that they'd like to see start for Everton in what is a crucial encounter in the battle for European football.
Joe Thomas
Jarrad Branthwaite is Everton's best centre-back but I would not start him tomorrow, even if his fitness outlook is positive.
Given the Blues have concerns over his workload after a season spent dealing with injury, bringing him back for one game and playing him when there are three weeks without a match for him to grow in strength would be a major risk.
It would be one not worth taking - particularly given the quality of the other options available to David Moyes at centre-back.
I would be more confident turning back to James Tarkowski, who has proven to be durable over his career and whose prognosis Moyes was also positive about on Friday.
The questions then, for me, are whether to play Jake O'Brien on the right or in the middle of the defence, and then where James Garner sits. I think O'Brien has been exceptional at centre-back when he has played there this season and given his pace would allow Everton to push up the pitch and be more cohesive going forward, I would start him in the middle.
James Garner of Everton during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium. Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
James Garner of Everton during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium. Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
View 2 Images
I have long been an advocate of Nathan Patterson at righ- back over players playing out of position and believe Garner is Everton's best central midfielder. But he is also probably the best right-back and he was very good there against Arsenal. So I keep him there.
In front of them, I would pair Idrissa Gueye with Tim Iroegbunam.
Iroegbunam can struggle with positional discipline but his strength and energy in the middle has been useful this season and he has produced several good displays against high-calibre opposition.
I think the rest of the team speaks for itself, especially given Everton actually produced a sustained threat from open play at the Emirates.
My team (4-2-3-1); Pickford; Garner, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko; Gueye, Iroegbunam; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.
Connor O'Neill
After David Moyes failed to reveal whether James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite will return to the matchday squad, tonight's team selection could be interesting. Personally, I would stick with the same side that started the defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
Although the Blues were eventually beaten 2-0 by the Gunners at the Emirates, they were more than a match for their table-topping opponents, and that was largely due to the team that David Moyes selected.
I thought Jake O’Brien and Michael Keane played really well at the back, and James Garner was again outstanding at right-back.
While both Tim Iroegbunam and Dwight McNeil deserve to keep their places. As does Beto, who led the line really well in the capital.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Garner, O'Brien, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Iroegbunam; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.
Chris Beesley
This game is a significant opportunity for Everton to pull off a scalp at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Although the Blues returned to winning ways by the banks of the Mersey against Burnley last time out after almost three months without tasting victory at their new home, they still haven’t beaten one of the big boys at their fresh surroundings.
While Everton infamously haven’t picked up three points at Stamford Bridge for over 31 years, their home record against Chelsea is decent with seven wins and just two defeats over the previous 10 seasons. The Londoners head into this fixture on the back of three successive losses, with a home reversal against Newcastle United coming in between a chastening 8-2 aggregate defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Also, off the field events this week should also serve as an incentive for David Moyes’ men, as, unlike Everton who were handed an unprecedented brace of points deductions in 2023/24 for single breaches of arbitrary figures set out by PSR rules, Chelsea have escaped a similar punishment despite making secret payments of £47million to unlicensed agents between 2011-18 to help them build one of the top teams in European football.
Moyes remains tight-lipped about the fitness of his first-choice centre-back pair Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski who missed the late 2-0 loss at Premier League leaders Arsenal last time out. While Jake O’Brien and Michael Keane are able deputies, with the Glaswegian gaffer insisting he’d be “fine” if it was same again, the combined presence of the missing pair does make a difference.
Moyes told reporters in his pre-match press conference that “both hopefully will be in and around the squad,” but details are scarce. We were informed by him prior to the Emirates Stadium that Branthwaite “will be okay,” while Tarkowski had played every game this season before the trip to the Gunners.
If they are fit, I would restore the pair of them to the heart of defence, which would also enable James Garner to be restored to his natural central midfield role – the position he has surely impressed Thomas Tuchel in to earn yesterday’s first call-up to the England squad.
It might be harsh that Tim Iroegbunam misses out after an encouraging display against Mikel Arteta’s side but so be it.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.