David Moyes and Abdoulaye Doucoure at Everton.
(Credit: Imago)
Dan Godfrey
Thu 13 March 2025 7:10, UK
David Moyes could make one change to his Everton side for the visit of West Ham United to Merseyside this weekend.
Everton head into their fifth-last game at Goodison Park this Saturday (15 March) on an unbeaten run of eight Premier League games, taking on a Hammers side with whom they sit level on 33 points in the table.
Both sides are comfortably clear of relegation danger with 16 points bridging the gap to 18th-placed Ipswich Town, and both Moyes and Graham Potter can plan for next season.
With Everton on a positive run, picking up points on their travels as well as in L4, the Toffees are unlikely to make too many alterations against their visitors from the capital.
Moyes has masterminded an excellent run to ensure Everton’s safety (Credit: Imago)
Moyes to make one change v West Ham
Following the 1-1 draw at Wolves last time out (8 March), Moyes could make a solitary change with Carlos Alcaraz coming in for Abdoulaye Doucoure.
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Malian midfielder Doucoure, an experienced and respected member of the Everton dressing room, was replaced by winter signing Alcaraz just past the hour mark at Molineux and the Toffees statistically created more going forward after the Argentine’s introduction, pushing to regain the lead.
Doucoure could also be a little behind the rest in terms of match sharpness given his absence against Brentford for the birth of his child, and the suspension he recently served against Manchester United.
Jack Harrison was the man to open the scoring in the first half before Marshall Munetsi’s equaliser, and the winger – who has struggled a lot for form at Everton this season – is likely to retain his place out on the left.
Jesper Lindstrom has improved considerably and should continue on the right, directly ahead of makeshift right-back Jake O’Brien who is now a key cog in the Moyes machine.
Despite his inconsistency with golden chances, Beto is undoubtedly the main man up front nowadays, and will spearhead the attack having scored four in his last three league outings at Goodison.
James Garner and Idrissa Gueye will again sit in front of a settled back four, which also includes the man most wanted in Jarrad Branthwaite, alongside James Tarkowski with Vitaliy Mykolenko at left-back, and of course Jordan Pickford between the sticks.
Alcaraz has impressed since joining Everton
Everton had a low-key January transfer window, unable to do too much business due to PSR constraints, as admitted by Moyes.
They did however bring in a young attacking midfielder with prior Premier League experience in Alcaraz, who arrived from Flamengo.
Scoring the winner at Crystal Palace to open his Toffees account, the 22-year-old has settled into life at Goodison very encouragingly and has become a more important part of the side since Iliman Ndiaye suffered his injury.
Carlos Alcaraz – professional career
Racing Club 2020-2023
Southampton 2023-2024
Juventus (loan) 2024
Flamengo 2024-present
EVERTON (loan) 2025-present
Alcaraz arrived back in England late in the winter transfer window
With the goal and assist at Selhurst Park, Alcaraz started against Brentford but was dropped to the bench to face Wolves when Doucoure returned.
However, the Argentine made a promising impact in the 27 minutes he featured at Molineux which could force Moyes’ hand to opt for that energy over the experience of Doucoure.
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