Our writers pick their Everton teams for the home game against Manchester United on Sunday
Everton's transfer deadline day signings Jack Grealish and (inset) Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Everton's transfer deadline day signings Jack Grealish and (inset) Ainsley Maitland-Niles
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Everton face a stern test of their unbeaten start to the new season when Manchester United visit Hill Dickinson Stadium at 2pm on Sunday. With plenty of big decisions to make when it comes to the Blues’ selection dilemmas, ECHO reporters have their say...
Joe Thomas
There’s a strange disconnect between how the past few weeks have unfolded on and off the pitch at Everton.
For all the chaos of the final throes of the transfer window, the Blues have started the season well. They should not fear Manchester United and are capable of a good result in this game, the visitors have a soft underbelly Everton exposed at Old Trafford last season.
Jack Grealish was key to that and his return might provide some belief and confidence, even if he no longer has Iliman Ndiaye on the opposite flank. I would start Grealish given he’s been playing at Manchester City.
I would also start Ainsley Maitland-Niles. While he hasn’t played in Ligue 1 this season, he has been involved in Lyon’s European qualifiers and he is the closest thing Everton now have to a specialist right-back.
I’m a bit torn over how to introduce Grealish and deal with the loss of Ndiaye. I like the idea of Grealish in the 10, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sitting deeper and James Garner alongside him. That would allow me to keep Tyrique George on the left, he has started well. But I think Dewsbury-Hall in the 10 provides a bit more protection and allows me to keep Harrison Armstrong in the team, which he deserves.
So I would go Dewsbury-Hall in the midfield between Armstrong and Garner. Grealish comes off the left and I would start Brennan Johnson on the right - I want him at the back post for the balls across goal Grealish could find.
George and Tyler Dibling off the bench offers some help but if Thierno Barry has a tough afternoon there’s not much available.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Maitland-Niles; Armstrong, Garner; Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Johnson; Barry.
Everton's strongest line-up after transfer window as trio of summer signings left out
Christopher Beesley
Iliman Ndiaye’s transfer deadline day departure ensures the right-wing berth in Everton’s side is up for grabs for Sunday’s showdown against Manchester United.
With a goal and an assist to his name, Brennan Johnson has already done more than the biggest signing of last summer, £35million man Tyler Dibling, even though the former Saints prospect has shown glimpses of his promise throughout pre-season. Johnson knows what it’s like to struggle with a big price tag around your neck after failing to find the net at previous club Crystal Palace, so while Dibling will now hopefully get more opportunities to shine this term, the Wales international gets the nod here.
On the opposite flank, Jack Grealish has returned and while he might be the main man going forwards for David Moyes’ side, given that the first £100million English player has still played less than an hour of competitive football since returning from a stress fracture in his left foot that curtailed his first loan spell with the Blues last season, Tyrique George continues for now on the left.
Everton – at long last – finally brought a new right-back through the door on deadline day, but again, it’s early days for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to come straight in so, for me, Merlin Rohl gets another whirl in the team’s problem position, although the German, who is a central midfielder by trade, is going to have to maintain his discipline against United’s plethora of expensively-assembled attacking options.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Rohl, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Garner, Armstrong; Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry.