The ECHO's Blues writers set out how they would line up for the Merseyside derby
Dwight McNeil during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Dwight McNeil during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
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Everton will enter the Merseyside derby without any new fitness concerns.
The Blues will also go into the game in form and with a raucous crowd behind them as they seek to win the first meeting against Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The pressure will be on both sides for the historic fixture but for Everton, with a return to Europe within tantalising reach, the prize for a win will be significant. This is how Everton writers Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley would line-up if they were in the dugout.
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Joe Thomas
David Moyes hinted at having a full-strength squad available for this game, minus the long-term absence of Jack Grealish, which is a good spot for Everton to be heading into the final six games of the campaign.
In theory, it gives the Blues boss some selection headaches but, in reality, I am not sure there is anything to discuss. Given Moyes named an unchanged line-up for Brentford (with the exception of Jarrad Branthwaite replacing Michael Keane), I think it is clear he has set upon a first choice XI for the run-in.
Given recent results and performances, I think it is hard to disagree with it. Beto’s form has cemented his position as the starting forward and his hot streak is particularly useful given it takes him into a game against a Liverpool defence he has had joy against in the past.
Tyrique George was a positive influence when he came on at Brentford but the Bees’ second goal came from his side and I think Dwight McNeil has done well enough to keep his spot - particularly when I think back to the attacking threat he posed at Arsenal when he was given a bit of space and freedom.
Elsewhere, as unfortunate as Keane was to drop out last week, a fully fit Branthwaite gives the centre back pairing some useful pace and I think James Garner is too important in the middle to be moved to right back.
There are games in this run that I would look to start either George or Tyler Dibling ahead of McNeil but this isn’t the one for me and I do like the idea of one of the pair coming on towards the end to provide some additional threat.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeil; Beto.
While his opposite number at Liverpool Arne Slot has got half a dozen stars out going into the first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton manager David Moyes has got a settled side going into the historic fixture.
Jack Grealish remains out with a long-term injury but while the Blues boss confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Charly Alcaraz has returned to training, the Argentinian midfielder is unlikely to be in contention for a start. The Glaswegian gaffer played up substitute Tyrique George’s potential after he came off the bench in the 2-2 draw at Brentford last time out.
Moyes said: “I was pleased. I’ve liked Tyrique and we’ll try and get him the minutes and opportunities when we can. He’s got good control, he wants to score, I like that, and you saw that today. He wants to try and score and that was important for me because I think wide players nowadays, we’re asking [a lot of] them.”
However, the 20-year-old also failed to track Michael Kayode in the build-up to the hosts’ second goal. It’s Dwight McNeil’s ability to put in a shift and earn Moyes’ trust with his off-the-ball work, that has enabled him to force his way back into the side after his proposed switch to Crystal Palace collapsed on deadline day of the winter window.
We saw pluses and minuses from Everton at the Gtech Community Stadium, but overall it was another positive result thanks to the visitors coming from behind twice in difficult conditions through Beto and then Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s stoppage time equaliser and because of that, the same starting 11 deserves to go again against the Reds.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, McNeil; Beto.