Our Everton writers pick their respective XIs for the clash between the Blues and Brighton & Hove Albion at Hill Dickinson Stadium
ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley has covered Everton and Liverpool both in the Premier League and abroad since 2005. He cut his teeth in professional sports journalism at the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and then the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, where he also covered Manchester United. Prior to that he worked on the student newspaper Pluto at the University of Central Lancashire, a role in which he first encountered David Moyes. Chris is well-known for his sartorial elegance and the aforementioned Scottish manager once enquired of him at a press conference: "Is that your dad's suit you've got on?" while the tradition continued in 2023 with new Blues boss Sean Dyche complimenting him on his smart appearance.
Jack Grealish in action during the match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 18, 2025
Jack Grealish in action during the match between Leeds United and Everton at Elland Road on August 18, 2025
(Image: Peter Nicholls/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
A huge day is in the offing for Everton. Sunday will see the first ever competitive match played at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Brighton & Hove Albion are the visitors and will be seeking to spoil what should be a raucous atmosphere. The Blues were poor in their season opener on Monday at Leeds United, losing 1-0 after a turgid performance and a controversial penalty decision.
Manager David Moyes will want his squad to bounce back as a result and given the standard of the display, it would be no surprise if changes were made. We asked our writers to share their preferred starting XIs ahead of the historic occasion.
Joe Thomas
James Garner has to move away from left back. It’s not just that he is on his wrong foot in that position, but what it does to weaken the midfield. With Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko out and Adam Aznou only returning to training on Friday, it will probably have to be another makeshift defence but, with the lack of specialist options at the right back and right midfield, for now at least, I would move to a back three.
I would have James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien across the centre back roles. That would enable me to play Dwight McNeil at left wing back - a move that would put a left footed option on that side, which would hopefully add balance and provide an option for good deliveries from deep.
On the right, I would start Seamus Coleman. If he is fit enough for the bench then get him involved. If he could just use his experience to provide a solid base with the rest of the defence then that would be invaluable.
Idrissa Gueye and James Garner would then give Everton a platform in the middle and allow Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to push forward and support my front two, which would be Jack Grealish behind Beto. This is a bit of an unusual side and would essentially be an effort to make the best of the situation currently facing Everton before key players return and new signings join.
My team (5-3-2): Pickford; McNeil, Keane, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Coleman; Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Gueye; Grealish, Beto
Chris Beesley
When asked about his decision to play James Garner at left-back against Leeds United, Everton manager David Moyes said that “somebody had to play there,” the Blues boss subsequently claiming that both Vitalii Mykolenko and Jarrad Branthwaite remain sidelined for the historic visit of Brighton & Hove Albion in Hill Dickinson Stadium’s first Premier League fixture.
Dwight McNeil is the closest thing the team possesses to a left-back unless Moyes decides to throw rookie Adam Aznou in at the deep end after the summer recruit from Bayern Munich made his return to training on Friday.
I’d therefore switch to a three centre-back system to try and get the best out of Everton’s available personnel and put McNeil at left wing-back and move Garner over to the right. This change in formation would also enable Jack Grealish to come into the side with the inexperienced Tim Iroegbunam dropping to the bench alongside Charly Alcaraz after disappointing displays at Elland Road as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall moves into a deeper role.
My team (3-4-3): Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski; Garner, Gueye, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeil; Ndiaye, Grealish, Beto