Possible alterations to Everton’s starting lineup for the Premier League curtain-raiser against Crystal Palace that David Moyes may consider
Having been cruelly denied all three points deep into added time during their concluding pre-season encounter with Lille, the Toffees return to competitive action at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday in their first top-flight match of the campaign. The club will be eager to begin their second season on the Mersey waterfront with a win, mirroring their success against Brighton & Hove Albion in the opening fixture of 2025/26.
England’s first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford featured in the match against the French club following his record-breaking achievements for the national side at the World Cup. Although Mark Travers had begun each of the preceding friendlies, Pickford is anticipated to be given the gloves for a 146th successive Premier League game, a sequence dating back to the 2-1 triumph at Southampton on October 1, 2022.
As things stand, Everton have yet to acquire a specialist right-back. Merlin Rohl, primarily a midfielder, has occupied that berth in two of the previous three outings, with Nathan Patterson – the club’s sole natural option in that position – having been preferred in the fixture versus Newcastle United, although the Scottish international appears unlikely to feature.
Currently, Rohl – who has shown encouraging form throughout pre-season – appears the most probable choice, though centre-back Jake O’Brien, who has spent the better part of 18 months there, could reprise his role as an unconventional solution at his former English club. Despite impressing when selected in his preferred central defensive position, the towering Irish international finds it difficult to secure minutes there when James Tarkowski – who retains the captain’s armband – and Jarrad Branthwaite are both available, so should he not be chosen at centre-back, he may well occupy a place on the substitutes’ bench alongside Michael Keane.
Although he has failed to convince during the summer months, Vitalii Mykolenko nevertheless appears a certainty at left-back given the lack of alternatives. Adam Aznou has demonstrated at least some promise when provided with opportunities recently, particularly in an attacking sense, and supplied a gilt-edged opportunity for fellow substitute Brennan Johnson against Lille that the newcomer ought to have converted.
Christian Norgaard could establish himself in the defensive midfield role this term as he seeks to compensate for a campaign spent largely on the substitutes’ bench at Arsenal, but the former Denmark international, signed as a replacement for Idrissa Gueye, has yet to feature for Everton. With Player of the Season James Garner currently unavailable through injury and Tim Iroegbunam also on the sidelines, there exists an early opportunity for Harrison Armstrong and another summer arrival Hayden Hackney to develop their nascent partnership in midfield – provided Rohl is not required in that area.
Charly Alcaraz offers further competition in the centre of the park, though it appears improbable he will be chosen there or in a more advanced central midfield position where Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has cemented his place, or indeed out wide where he is also capable of playing, though there are now considerable options available.
Iliman Ndiaye has featured in the most recent two matches and appears best placed to claim one of the wide attacking positions, leaving Tyrique George, Tyler Dibling and Everton’s most recent addition Johnson to compete for the other spot.
In attack, Thierno Barry has enjoyed an impressive pre-season while Beto has not, meaning the Frenchman appears set to lead the line for the season opener.