REUTERS/Matthew Child
Everton go into Sunday's meeting with Manchester United off the back of a chaotic deadline day, and David Moyes didn't hide his frustration at how the window ended.
"Disappointed we didn't do more business, disappointed things didn't go our way in the end," Moyes said in his pre-match press conference. "But sometimes in football you have to live with disappointments, and we will and we'll move on."
REUTERS/Blake Dahlin
That frustration stems in large part from the Toffees' failed efforts to sign a new striker, with Beto departing for Fiorentina only for the replacement plan to fall through. Everton had agreed a £40million deal with Monaco to USA star Folarin Balogun, and the striker even travelled to Merseyside for his medical on deadline day, only for doubts raised by Everton's own medical staff to cause a frantic renegotiation.
Balogun then ultimately walked away himself following a new agreement between the clubs, leaving Thierno Barry as the club's only recognised senior forward heading into a congested run of fixtures, starting with United's visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton are still trying to sign a free agent striker, read more here!
Everton manager David Moyes celebrates after the match
Everton manager David Moyes celebrates after the match
Defence - Jordan Pickford, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitaliy Mykolenko
Pickford continues in goal, with Tarkowski, Branthwaite and Mykolenko all retaining their places after the draw at Bournemouth. The change comes at right-back, where Ainsley Maitland-Niles is handed a first start ahead of Merlin Röhl.
Röhl looks better suited to a central midfield role long-term, and Maitland-Niles offers more raw athleticism to get up and down the flank, which matters against a United side who like to attack down the channels.
“I want to get cracking as soon as possible and show my talents on the pitch." - Maitland-Niles
Midfield - James Garner, Harrison Armstrong, Hayden Hackney
Garner and Armstrong keep their places in the middle, but Hackney is the man coming in, replacing the departed Iliman Ndiaye in a reshuffle rather than a like-for-like swap, meaning Moyes' 4-2-3-1 formation will look more like a 4-3-3 out of possession.
It adds legs and physical presence to the engine room, with the Blues needing bodies who can cope against a Manchester United midfield strengthened this summer by Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos. The Red Devils have also been boosted by Kobbie Mainoo's return to form, and with their new look midfield providing the protection for the irresistable Bruno Fernandes, Everton can't afford to be outmuscled centrally.
Hackney scored five times for Boro last season and averaged 1.9 shots per game, so provides enough attacking impetus to get the Hill Dickinson crowd off their feet without sacrificing solidity, given he also boasted 2.2 tackles per game last term.
Attack - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Thierno Barry, Brennan Johnson
Dewsbury-Hall and Barry continue, with Barry having done enough to fend off competition from - wait, never mind.
The bigger call is Brennan Johnson coming in for Tyrique George, ahead of the more obvious option of recalled loanee Jack Grealish. Grealish is only just back through the door and short of match sharpness after his own move, and there's a strong case that his best route into this game is off the bench once United's legs start to tire, rather than as a starter.
J Zirkzee
J Zirkzee
Johnson's directness offers something different, and with Luke Shaw struggling at left-back so far this season, pace in behind him is exactly the kind of examination Everton should be setting.