Our Everton FC writers Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley select their line-ups for Saturday's Premier League clash at Bourneouth
Brennan Johnson celebrates his goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Preston North End and Everton at Deepdale in Preston, on August 26, 2026. The goal contributes to a 4-0 scoreline. (Photo by Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Brennan Johnson could be pushing for a place in the Everton starting line-up at Bournemouth after he came off the bench to score his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup romp at Preston North End(Image: Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Everton make the long trip to the south coast today to take on Bournemouth as they look to continue their perfect start to the season. The Blues followed their 2-0 win at home to Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the Premier League season with a 4-0 thrashing of Preston North End in the Carabao Cup at Deepdale on Wednesday.
The return of James Garner in that second-round tie and the impact of livewire substitute Brennan Johnson will have left David Moyes with plenty to think about in terms of his team selection this afternoon.
We'll find out exactly who the Everton manager has gone with when his line-up is announced at 1.45pm.
But for now, here are the teams that our Blues reporters would pick at the Vitality Stadium...
Joe Thomas
The main question for me is whether James Garner, not yet fully fit, or Hayden Hackney, who is “touch and go” after rolling his ankle, starts in the middle.
Everything else probably stays the same from Crystal Palace for me. I’d like to see Jake O’Brien get a chance at centre-back but understand keeping James Tarkowski there at the moment, while in the battle of square pegs in round holes I’m content for Merlin Rohl to continue at right-back, mainly out of consistency.
I’m not far off starting Brennan Johnson so I can move Iliman Ndiaye back to the left, but I really enjoyed Tyrique George against Palace and want him to continue to build on his good summer, so I keep him on the left.
Thierno Barry certainly starts, so back to midfield. If Hackney is fit I think his underlying fitness must be better than Garner’s, and I don’t want to put the England international under too much pressure as he comes back, so the summer signing from Middlesbrough partners the excellent Harrison Armstrong for me.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Hackney; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry.
Chris Beesley
After being rested for the 4-0 win at Preston North End on Wednesday as his minutes continue to be managed, I’d hope that Jarrad Branthwaite is now fit to return at the heart of Everton’s defence for the trip to Bournemouth.
With Blues boss David Moyes describing Hayden Hackney as “touch and go” for the game at the Vitality Stadium, in-form teenager Harrison Armstrong and the fit-again James Garner can continue in the engine room with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a more advanced central midfield role.
The big call seemingly surrounds who will occupy the two winger positions. Iliman Ndiaye has to start, but what about the opposite flank? That leaves three players vying for one role.
Despite starting against Championship opponents three days earlier, Tyler Dibling seems to be in the weakest position. Tyrique George has enjoyed a promising pre-season and got the nod against Crystal Palace – with supporters inside HHill Dickinson Stadium voting him as their man-of-the-match – but given the instant impact that Everton’s latest signing Brennan Johnson enjoyed at Deepdale, with a goal (something he failed to do in 26 outings for the Eagles) and an assist, I’d be tempted to reward him with a first start.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Rohl, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.