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Predicted starting XI for Everton's season-capping trip to Newcastle

The final day of the Premier League season will take place on Sunday, with both the champions and the relegated sides already decided. There are questions to be answered about European qualification and how the non-relegation bottom of the table will end up, but on the whole, the matches don't pack a ton of punch.

Everton's last match, a trip to St.James' Park to take on Newcastle, falls into the former category, with the hosts needing a win to secure Champions League and the Toffees looking to play spoiler for their plans.

With 13th place secured, there are plenty of questions about how David Moyes will line up his squad, especially with both Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and Seamus Coleman (thigh) having been confirmed to miss the match due to injuries sustained last weekend against Southampton.

Still, some players who probably need to see time on the pitch anyway, so having some opportunity to showcase those who might be on the fringes of the squad heading into the summer will be crucial.

Given all of that, let's take a guess at who Moyes will insert into his starting XI for the final match.

Everton lineup v Newcastle (4-2-3-1)

Tim Iroegbunam

Everton FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League | Carl Recine/GettyImages

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Jordan Pickford (GK): There are some murmurings, I'm assuming mostly from fans, about letting Pickford go and see Sunderland try to secure a return to the Premier League, but that feels ridiculous, especially with both backup keepers leaving this summer.

Vitalii Mykolenko (LB): There aren't any other options at the position, which will need deepening in the summer, so the Ukrainian stays put.

Michael Keane (CB): With Branthwaite out and James Tarkowski still recovering from his injury, it falls to Keane, in what is likely his last game in a Blue shirt.

Jake O'Brien (CB): Again, the options are slim, but O'Brien has also been a fixture in Moyes' side since the Scot returned to the dugout.

Nathan Patterson (RB): With Coleman injured and Ashley Young not returning next season, it makes sense to give Patterson another run. I'm not sure he has a long-term future at the club, but Moyes needs to confirm that on the final day.

Midfielders

Idrissa Gana Gueye (CDM): Still no discussion of a new deal for the Ghanian, which is troubling, but either way, he should slide back into the starting XI to either wrap up his Everton career or continue to build on a potential Player of the Season campaign.

Tim Iroegbunam (CM): Could Abdoulaye Doucoure start here for his final Everton match? For sure. Does it make more sense to give the youngster a run? Absolutely. We'll put in a vote for pragmatism over sentiment.

Charly Alcaraz (CAM): He wants to stay, and Everton are reportedly working to make that happen. The Argentine should get a long run against Newcastle.

Forwards

Iliman Ndiaye (LW): The Senegalese doesn't have anything else to prove this season, as he's been excellent this campaign when he's been on the pitch. It would be cool if Ndiaye could get to double-digit goals for the year.

Dwight McNeil (RW): I'm not fully sure this experiment of McNeil on the right is where Moyes wants it to be, but with Jack Harrison heading back to Leeds soon and Jesper Lindstrom hurt (and heading back to Napoli soon), the Englishman should get the nod.

Beto (CF): The case could be made for Dominic Calvert-Lewin here, but I'm growing less convinced he's returning next year, so I'm going with the player most likely to make an impact in 2025/26 and beyond. I'd love to see Youssef Chermiti get a half out there, as well.

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