The new season is upon us and Everton travel to newly-promoted Leeds United to get the 2025/26 campaign started.
The Toffees are yet to address the gap at right wing, with the right back situation unsettled still. There’s still two weeks left in the summer transfer window with David Moyes hoping to bring in 3-4 more players.
Who’s Out?
The big news is that Jarrad Branthwaite picked up a knock in training, and his return timetable remains unknown.
Vitaliy Mykolenko had to leave that final friendly against AS Roma early in the game with an injury, with Moyes saying that he may still be available tonight.
Everton squad available vs Leeds
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko (DOUBT), Coleman, Patterson (DOUBT), Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish, Alcaraz
Attackers: Beto, Barry, Chermiti
Tactics and Formation
Everton used three formations during the preseason, with a 3-4-2-1, a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1.
If Mykolenko is not good to go and Moyes doesn’t want to give Aznou the start right away, then the Blues could go with the first formation, with a backline of Tarkowski, Keane and O’Brien. However if Myko is fit then likely the Blues go with the last option, and then will it be Dewsbury-Hall in the #10 position, with Grealish starting and Ndiaye on the right? Or is he going to keep Grealish on the bench for now and continue to use Alcaraz on the right and Ndiaye on the left wing?
The defence will surely stay the same and I’d imagine Garner and Gueye will continue in the double pivot for now to keep disruptions to a minimum.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 10/10
Jake O’Brien – 10/10
Michael Keane – 7/10 Many will want JOB here instead, but truth be told he has had a rough go of things this preseason.
James Tarkowski– 10/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 6/10
Idrissa Gana Gueye – 10/10
James Garner - 8/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 8/10 KDH will play, the question is where?
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10
Carlos Alcaraz – 7/10
Beto – 9/10 The #9 shirt is Beto’s for the season, and he will have the start too.
Mark Travers
Adam Aznou
Seamus Coleman
Tim Iroegbunam
Harrison Armstrong - Will the youngster get the hook for a third goalie? We’ll see.
Jack Grealish - The big question here is if the star is fit and ready for the season.
Dwight McNeil
Thierno Barry
Youssef Chermiti