Branthwaite likely to start vs Lille in final fitness step before Palace opener
Jarrad Branthwaite is set to start for Everton against Lille this afternoon, in what looks like the final stop in his recovery before David Moyes settles on his back-line for the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
The centre-back has been carefully managed through pre-season following the hamstring injury that ended his 2025/26 campaign early.
He captained the side and played 80 minutes against Stuttgart, having also started against Bolton Wanderers and Hamburg, before being rested as a precaution for the win over Newcastle in Edinburgh.
Today’s appearance at the Hill Dickinson — Everton’s final fixture before the Palace game on 22 August — represents the last opportunity for Moyes to assess Branthwaite’s fitness under matchday conditions before naming his side for the competitive opener.
The 23-year-old is expected to line up alongside James Tarkowski in the heart of Everton’s defence, with Moyes having steadily increased his workload across the summer rather than risk a setback so close to the new season.
Should Branthwaite come through the Lille match unscathed, he looks set to be involved from the opening weekend as Everton begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign, again at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Read Everton will cover the game, with a match report and Moyes quotes later.
Gary is editor for ReadEverton. He has many years experience of sports writing behind him after deciding (belatedly) that the world of accountancy wasn't for him. His work has been featured on (among many others) BBC Sport and The Metro. He has written on many sports, but considers himself an expert in football and F1. When not writing and editing he likes to go to the cinema and sip a lovely cold pint of Guinness (not always at the same time).
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Everton reveal Hill Dickinson Stadium changes ahead of Lille friendly
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