A look at the changes to the starting 11 that David Moyes could make for Everton's next game against Manchester United
Everton have a 13-day gap following the game with Bournemouth before they’re next in action as Manchester United make their first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium and David Moyes will have to make at least one enforced change.
Jake O’Brien is suspended for the game against the Red Devils having been shown a straight red card in the 2-1 defeat to the Cherries by referee Andrew Madley for a professional foul on match-winner Amine Adli when having been deemed to have denied him another goalscoring opportunity.
Although Moyes has the option of bringing in a specialist right-back in Nathan Patterson, who was on the bench against Bournemouth, or even club captain Seamus Coleman who made what is his only Premier League start of the season so far in the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford, only to be forced off after just 10 minutes with a hamstring injury, he might be tempted to move one of his more regular performers into the ‘problem position’ slot from midfield.
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James Garner, who has also played left-back this term, was deployed at right-back for the 2-0 home win over Fulham on November 8 while Merlin Rohl, who made his first start for the Blues in the 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest on December 30, finished that contest at the City Ground at right-back following Patterson’s substitution.
At centre-back, Michael Keane could count himself unfortunate to drop to the bench against Andoni Iraola’s side and having conceded two goals from headers, neither Everton’s most valuable player Jarrad Branthwaite, or James Tarkowski, who has been the on-field leader in Coleman’s absence, and has played in every minute so far this season, can consider themselves immune from being dropped.
The potential of Garner being moved to right-back could free up a space in the centre of the park alongside Idrissa Gueye for either the aforementioned Rohl, Harrison Armstrong, Tim Iroegbunam or even Charly Alcaraz with the Argentinian also an outside bet for a place on the wing, where Armstrong has also been deployed at times. All of those players could potentially come in for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the number 10 role as well, but if he’s fit, the man who netted the match-winner when the Blues became the first team to win a Premier League match at Old Trafford following a sending off, would be expected to retain his place.
Despite netting a well-struck penalty, neither Iliman Ndiaye or Tyrique George who was making his first start enjoyed the best of performances against the Dorset outfit last time out so, in theory at least, there is scope for Tyler Dibling or even Dwight McNeil, who hasn’t been in the last two squads since his proposed transfer deadline day move to Crystal Palace fell through, to step up.
Meanwhile, Beto could be pushing for a recall up front after Thierno Barry missed a couple of big chances against Bournemouth and spent prolonged periods with his head in his hands while sat on the bench after being substituted.
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