Confirmed Everton XI and match announcement
Everton have named their starting eleven for Saturday’s Premier League round five meeting with Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium. David Moyes sends out a settled side as Everton look to build on their recent home form, and the confirmed team sheet gives supporters their first proper look at how his players line up before kick-off. The referee appointments for the fixture have also been confirmed ahead of the game.
Everton’s starting XI reads:
Jordan Pickford
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
James Tarkowski
Jarrad Branthwaite
Vitaliy Mykolenko
Harrison Armstrong
James Garner
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Brennan Johnson
Jack Grealish
Thierno Barry
Pickford continues in goal, with Tarkowski and Branthwaite in the centre of defence and Maitland-Niles and Mykolenko occupying the full-back positions. Garner, Dewsbury-Hall and Armstrong make up the midfield, while Johnson, Grealish and Barry lead the attack. Anyone wanting the wider matchday picture can check the full Everton squad for context on who else is involved on the day.
Everton team sheet and tactical shape breakdown
Everton set up in a 4-3-3 shape, which has become Moyes’ preferred base at Hill Dickinson Stadium this season. Pickford sits behind a back four built for physicality and experience, with Tarkowski and Branthwaite forming the central partnership. Maitland-Niles and Mykolenko push on from full-back to add width whenever Everton have the ball.
In midfield, Garner takes the deepest role of the three, screening the back line and setting the tempo from a central position. Dewsbury-Hall and Armstrong work either side of him, covering ground box to box and dropping in to support the defence when Ipswich have possession. That balance matters against a side likely to sit in a compact block, and it fits the standards Moyes has set for performances at home, covered in our piece on Moyes’ standards for home matches.
Ahead of them, Johnson stays high and wide on the right, looking to stretch Ipswich’s back four and attack the space behind their full-back. Grealish takes a similar starting position on the left but is expected to drift inside, linking with Barry and helping Everton overload central areas. Barry leads the line as the focal point, holding up play and giving Everton a physical option to aim for once they win the ball back.
Pressing triggers should come high up the pitch, with Barry and Grealish looking to close down Ipswich’s centre-backs whenever they try to build from the back. Garner’s positioning becomes important in that phase, since any gap he leaves can be exploited if Ipswich break the first line of pressure. Everton’s full-backs will need to judge carefully when to push forward in support of the wide attackers and when to stay disciplined against Ipswich’s own threat out wide.
Ipswich Town starting XI and opponent setup
Ipswich Town name Christian Walton in goal behind a back four of Abdoul Ouattara, Issa Diop, Dara O’Shea and Leif Davis. Saša Lukić and Exequiel Palacios sit in central midfield, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Julio Enciso and Jack Clarke supporting Emersonn in attack.
Ipswich’s starting XI reads:
Christian Walton
Abdoul Ouattara
Issa Diop
Dara O’Shea
Leif Davis
Saša Lukić
Exequiel Palacios
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
Julio Enciso
Jack Clarke
Emersonn
That team sheet points to a 4-2-3-1 shape designed to stay compact without the ball and break quickly through Enciso and Emersonn once possession is won. Lukić and Palacios give the visitors control in central midfield, with both expected to sit in front of the back four and limit the space available to Garner and Everton’s midfield three.
Issahaku and Clarke provide the width in Ipswich’s setup, tucking inside off the ball to help outnumber Everton centrally before pushing wide in possession to isolate Maitland-Niles and Mykolenko. Enciso operates as the link between midfield and attack, and his movement between the lines is likely to be a key battle for Garner and Dewsbury-Hall to track throughout the ninety minutes.
Emersonn leads the line as the outlet for Ipswich’s counter-attacking approach, relying on pace in behind Everton’s defence rather than holding the ball up as a target man. The approach reflects the tactical rebuild Ipswich have undergone over the summer, detailed in our look at Ipswich’s summer tactical rebuild, and this line-up points to a squad built for pace and directness rather than sustained possession.
Everton will look to deny Ipswich the space to counter by keeping their shape disciplined in transition, particularly through Garner’s positioning and the willingness of Tarkowski and Branthwaite to step out and close passing lanes before Ipswich’s front four can turn and run at goal.
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