**[Everton](https://ReadEverton.com) open their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace later (3pm KO).**
David Moyes has three central midfielders unavailable for the season-opener. Brennan Johnson could make his Everton debut against his former club.
David Moyes goes into the game with gaps still to fill and a midfield through necessity due to injuries. H
The Toffees begin their second Premier League season at the Hill Dickinson, looking to end a run of four successive opening-day defeats without scoring.
Moyes provided several clues about his likely side during Friday’s press conference. Christian Nørgaard, James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are all unavailable, while the failure to sign a specialist right-back leaves one familiar problem unresolved.
Moyes must settle on his back four.
Jordan Pickford will obviously start in goal after returning from England’s World Cup campaign to feature towards the end of pre-season.
James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite are expected to resume their partnership in central defence. Branthwaite was managed carefully over the summer following the hamstring injury which ended his 2025/26 season, but he has now played enough football to be considered.
Tarkowski will captain Everton, although Moyes made it clear on Friday that his place cannot be taken for granted.
“Tarky will have to play well — he has competition,” he said.
Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien provide the most obvious alternatives, but Tarkowski’s experience should keep him alongside Branthwaite for the visit of Palace.
Vitalii Mykolenko is the likely choice at left-back, although he is now being pushed hard by Adam Aznou. The opposite side is far less certain.
Moyes confirmed Everton have identified several potential right-backs but offered a blunt assessment of their position in the market: “We’re limited on funds.”
He also mentioned Merlin Röhl and ‘Jimmy’ Garner as players who could fill in there, pointing to other clubs who have successfully converted midfielders into full-backs.
Garner’s absence removes one possibility, while Everton’s shortage of available midfielders may count against moving Röhl out of that area.
O’Brien is therefore the most likely choice. The Republic of Ireland international is, of course, a centre-back rather than a natural full-back, but Moyes has used him there regularly.
Injuries leave Everton short in midfield
This is the part of the team where Moyes has the fewest options.
“We don’t have Christian Nørgaard fit yet,” he confirmed. “Jimmy Garner is obviously returning from a hernia operation.”
Iroegbunam will also miss the game, leaving Everton without three senior central midfielders.
Hayden Hackney should make his Premier League debut as a result. Moyes was careful not to place too much pressure on the former Middlesbrough midfielder, recalling how Tim Cahill, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka needed time to establish themselves after stepping up from the Championship.
Under different circumstances, Hackney might have been introduced gradually. Everton’s injury list makes an opening-day start difficult to avoid.
Harrison Armstrong could play alongside him. Asking a 19-year-old to start in central midfield on the first day of the season would be a considerable show of trust, but Armstrong has looked increasingly comfortable around the senior squad.
His energy and willingness to do the ‘dirty’ work would allow Hackney to get on the ball and help Everton play through midfield. It would also keep Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the advanced role where he is most effective.
Dewsbury-Hall gives Everton a runner beyond the centre-forward as well as somebody capable of carrying possession into the final third. With Hackney and Armstrong behind him, he would have greater freedom to support the attack.
Brennan Johnson should make his competitive Everton debut on the right against the club he left during the summer.
Johnson’s pace gives Everton a threat in behind which was too often missing last season. His willingness to run beyond the defence should also create more room for Dewsbury-Hall between Palace’s midfield and back line.
Iliman Ndiaye remains Everton’s most accomplished attacking player and should start from the left, although he will spend much of the game drifting into central positions. Mykolenko will consequently be expected to supply much of the width on that side.
The final decision is between Thierno Barry and Beto.
Beto’s strength and Premier League experience would make him a reasonable choice against Palace’s back three. Barry, however, appears better suited to the mobile front line Everton are trying to build.
The French striker can occupy defenders, run the channels and combine with the three players behind him. He gets the narrow vote, with Beto providing a more direct option from the bench.
Moyes does not yet have the squad he wanted for the start of the season. Even so, Johnson, Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall give Everton enough invention behind Barry to trouble Palace.
**Predicted Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.**