Ahead of the return of Premier League action following the second international break of the season, Everton will make the short trip up the M62 to the Etihad Stadium to face a resurgent Manchester City side.
The Toffees ended the previous period of games before the international break in dramatic fashion, scoring a late winner to end Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
However, the match winner on that day, Jack Grealish, will be unavailable for this weekend’s clash against the eight-time Premier League champions due to the rule that prohibits loan players from facing their parent clubs.
So for the first time this season, David Moyes’ side will have to face the challenge of playing without their new star signing.
In his absence, Carlos Alcaraz is the perfect fit to come into the starting XI and make an impact from the get-go.
Going into the weekend, you would expect another of Everton’s summer signings, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, to come straight back into the side, having unfortunately missed out through suspension against Crystal Palace after picking up five yellow cards inside the first six league games of the season.
A player who did come into the starting side against The Eagles due to ‘KDH’s’ absence was another summer signing in the shape of Tyler Dibling, with the 19-year-old making his first Premier League start for the club. However, after a seemingly indifferent first-half performance, the teenager was subbed off after 45 minutes and replaced by Alcaraz.
Now, many supporters would argue that Moyes hasn’t exactly been the most proactive with his substitutions so far this season, despite having arguably the strongest bench he’s had across both his spells at Everton. However, against Crystal Palace, he made three subs that changed the game. In particular, the one that stood out the most was Alcaraz.
Alcaraz joined Everton back in January on loan before the move became permanent shortly after the 2024/25 campaign concluded. Having started the Toffees’ league opener against Leeds United, game time in the Premier League has been limited for the 22-year-old, with only 32 minutes played across three substitute appearances prior to the Palace game.
Despite not registering a goal or assist against the Eagles, or in the Premier League this season so far, some key stats to take away from the Argentinian's 45-minute cameo included a total of two shots (one on target, one big chance missed), one key pass, 78% (18/23) passing accuracy with 21 of those passes being made in the opposition half and a total of two tackles made.
Overall, Alcaraz proved to be a real handful for a very well-organised Crystal Palace side on the day, which also saw him play a key role in the build-up to Everton’s match-winner, scored by Grealish.
Despite his natural position just behind the lone striker, Alcaraz did play off the right against Palace and performed just as well, if not better. That versatility and willingness to shine in David Moyes’ side is something the manager may well consider going into this weekend’s game against ‘The Citizens’.
Reader Comments (12)
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2 Posted 17/10/2025 at 18:27:43
I wonder about McNeil. I recall last year his girlfriend was in serious health trouble. I wonder if dealing with that has had a continued impact on him mentally and physically?
His complete loss of form and Moyes's reluctance to use a guy who has the kind of attributes he typically admires is strange. But based on Moyes's comments today, I don't see McNeil getting the nod.
“He has to keep pushing to get into the side. As you can see, we've changed a few players in the attacking areas, we're trying to improve there.
“He has to get back to that and show that and as I said, he's got stiff opposition in front of him but he did okay for the Under-21s the other night.”
3 Posted 17/10/2025 at 19:05:35
McNeil has had 2 bad injuries in the past 2 seasons and since then he has looked very lethargic with a tendency to keep playing the ball back and not forward.
I fear his best days are behind him, whereas Alcaraz and Dibling should have their best days in front of them. Charly in particular is always looking forward but does not suit playing on the wing.
I would play him just behind Beto, which seems to bring the best out of both of them, and put Dewsbury-Hall on the left side of a 3-man defensive midfield for this game, with Ndiaye on the left. This would enable Jimmy Garner to play a little wider too to support Jake O'Brien, assuming he is still at right-back.
4 Posted 17/10/2025 at 20:02:11
Is it surprising that Beto was remarked upon as one whose one-on-ones have dried up? Alcaraz is Beto's provider from the centre of midfield. But Moyes appears to have a reluctance so for me it will be no surprise to see him either dropped or out wide and ineffective today.
Dewsbury-Hall seems to have that position tied up in Moyes's game plan but last week Alcaraz was the main reason we got 3 points so surely that can't be lost on Moyes?
Just as a post script, The Athletic did a very good article on Alcaraz prior to his signing and where he should play and what doesn't work.
What Carlos Alcaraz will bring to Everton
His forte is aggressive attacking from midfield, exactly what we saw last week; using him as a wide player does not work.
5 Posted 17/10/2025 at 20:51:46
6 Posted 17/10/2025 at 22:41:48
Or Alcaraz and Dewsbury-Hall rotate and we play both Gana and Garner? Does this balance it?
Phew, this will be interesting!
7 Posted 18/10/2025 at 04:01:08
8 Posted 18/10/2025 at 07:07:22
Moyes needs to use his full allocation of subs much better than he does. Hopefully Palace was a turning point in that respect...
9 Posted 18/10/2025 at 07:31:58
Alcaraz looked lost out there against Leeds, and we all know he's suited to the No 10 position where he does seem to be able to link with Beto.
It's only one game before Grealish is back so I don't think it's too big of a deal to play Dewsbury-Hall on the right today and move Ndiaye back to the left.
I can't see Moyes playing Dibling away from home against a top team where defensive discipline is going to be much needed. Maybe he'll just slot Charly in on the left and then leave Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye as they were?
A point today would be a good result but with the form Haaland is in, it's hard to see us getting anything. But you never know...
10 Posted 18/10/2025 at 09:06:30
In terms of team shape, he most obviously replaces Doucoure in the 4-4-1-1 of last season. He also seems to make Beto or Barry more effective. Since neither striker has good ball control, they need people around them.
In this game, I probably would adopt that same 4-4-1-1 approach. Ndiaye and Dibling wide with Garner and Gueye sitting in central midfield.
If Alcaraz is not working, then Dewsbury-Hall comes into the side.
The problem as ever is the back 4.
11 Posted 18/10/2025 at 09:30:09
As much as I'd like to see Ndiaye central, it is more likely he will be on the right.
Garner Gana
Ndiaye Alcaraz Dewsbury-Hall
Beto
12 Posted 18/10/2025 at 17:12:06
We also don't need to try to fit our ‘best 11' players on the pitch from the start by playing them out of position. We should be in a position to make substitutions that strengthen the team with 25 minutes to go.
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1 Posted 17/10/2025 at 18:08:52
He's a central attacking midfielder, a Number 10. To replace Grealish, we need to bring in a wide man. We also need to utilise subs effectively before players tire, this will be especially true against Man City as we won't see much of the ball.
One of Dibling or McNeil should start out wide and the other should replace them. One of Dewsbury-Hall or Alcaraz should start in the middle and the other should replace them.