Another unwanted hiatus to the Premier League programme is past and on Saturday, Everton will be revisiting The Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City, and especially Erling Haaland, appear to have largely recovered their Mojo.
Their giant centre-forward has already scored an incredible 12 goals so far this season, and has returned home from the Norway team early so he can rest in anticipation of Saturday's testing encounter with the resurgent Toffees under David Moyes.
But, because of the ridiculous loan rules, Everton's primary catalyst Jack Grealish will be sitting in the stands for this one, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall reinstated after another ridiculous episode that saw him banned from playing in the win over Crystal Palace after being booked for talking a free-kick too quickly. That goal Dewsbury-Hall scored against Wolves was simply brilliant... but it's a rarity — he just doesn't score many goals.
After 7 games, Manchester City are remarkably only 2 points above Everton in the nascent Premier League table, and a win for the visitors will see the order reversed. But the challenge of securing a win at the Etihad is something that has largely eluded David Moyes and Everton for many years.
Indeed, the last win there dates back to a previous era when Tim Cahill set the tone with a goal after just 4 minutes and Leighton Baines followed up with a simply exquisite shot — curled in off his wrong foot! — after just 18 minutes. That gave Moyes what he needed to cling on for a fantastic win... proving it can be done!
But with the patterns of play his side have adopted at times this season, that is likely to be an extremely hard ask. Everton simply do not play the ball forward fast enough to score early and often. Moyes instead appears to have drummed into the players the absolute requirement to focus instead on defence in the first half and hope to get in at half-time unscathed and still in the game.
Part of the problem is his maddening reluctance to use the full complement of subs allowed in the modern game. He's been doing marginally better — albeit only after dreadful first-half performances (at Wolves and against Palace), but won't unleash his faster players to really attack at pace and hopefully score early goals that would then give his defenders something worthwhile to defend.
To be fair, the players who should be providing this much-needed energy and intensity going forward are maddeningly inconsistent. Charly Alcaraz was great against Palace when he came on, but he was awful against Wolves and Moyes was right to hook him at half-time.
Tyler Dibling remains a huge enigma, almost completely unable to show his reputed silky skills given the moribund approach to forward play in the seriously limited opportunities he's been given so far. And he seems unlikely to start this game.
Iliman Ndiaye is of course undroppable. A huge crowd favourite, his dynamism, jinking runs, and uncanny ability to keep possession of the ball are all fantistic for Evertonians to watch; he is beyond criticsm... or is he?
I think he holds the ball too long, doesn't look to play it off quick enough, or shoot at goal often enough. There, I've said it. I'm sorry. And part of the problem is not enough support players close enough to him.
Like Ndiaye, the rest of the team picks itself while Moyes persists with alternating his pair of monster centre-forwards firing blanks... or just not firing at all. Haven't we seen enough? Time for something different... Ndiaye, Keane, Alcaraz. Surely any one of them could do a far better job?
To counter Haaland, assuming he's playing, maybe Moyes needs Keane in the back line alongside Tarkowski and O'Brien to challenge his physical presence, assuming Jarrad Branthwaite is not yet fit enough.
Seamus Coleman returns from his international exploits again astounding the critics who wrote him off years ago. On the subs bench again, I expect, with Garner and Mykolenko defending the flanks and bombing forward.
I never pick teams, and there is clearly a very good reason for that, but here is what all this nonsense might equate to — a rather novel 3-3-3-1 formation:
Pickford
O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane
Garner, Gueye, Mykolenko
Dibling, Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall
Ndiaye
In my dreams...
Reader Comments (70)
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2 Posted 13/10/2025 at 23:33:02
Pickford
O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko
Gueye, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall
Alcaraz, Beto, Ndiaye.
If Branthwaite is on the bench, expect to see him, unless there's an injury, at 75 minutes.
3 Posted 14/10/2025 at 05:43:22
My own personal challenge is to leave my past concerns behind and expect us to keep competing with the lot of them.
4 Posted 14/10/2025 at 07:04:32
That and Beto may be better than Barry at chasing the long punt now that Grealish will be torn in his allegiance, apparently.
5 Posted 14/10/2025 at 07:28:49
Should be better in the second half and hopefully he does not need to go a goal down in the first half to get the type of performance we have been seeing with Everton trying to attack and get forward in the second half.
6 Posted 14/10/2025 at 08:19:21
Michael, not sure why you are apologising for your comments about Ndiaye. It's true.
Paul K, I have also noticed Grealish slowing things down and keeping possession but I also think that he may not have confidence in some of his team mates especially when the movement around him is non-existent so tends to hold on to the ball longer than perhaps he should.
As for formation, I can't recall how some of the lesser teams that have been successful against City have set up but imagine it'll be a defensive mindset for us. It would be nice to go there with an attack minded get at them approach and stick two up front so that their defence have something to do/think about but it'll no doubt be backs to the wall with them having 4 free defenders walking around with little to do.
7 Posted 14/10/2025 at 08:31:40
8 Posted 14/10/2025 at 08:38:52
Pickford
Garner, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko
Dibling, Gueye, Alcaraz, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye
Beto.
9 Posted 14/10/2025 at 09:07:47
10 Posted 14/10/2025 at 09:14:09
Usually he is hooked at around 75-80 minutes as he is blowing hard and spent. I think the first half in which we created nothing probably helped him last the game.
His fitness in hard games is a slight concern but, as he does more than most to lift the gloom, he is forgiven for that.
11 Posted 14/10/2025 at 10:32:51
Did you comment in the wrong thread?
12 Posted 14/10/2025 at 11:01:53
But my biggest worry is O'Brien trying to keep Doku quiet, he is probably the quickest winger in the Premier League, and Jake has really struggled against pacey wide players.
13 Posted 14/10/2025 at 12:34:15
The problem is:- what's the finishing line-up going to look like? City can keep it going full pelt for 96 mins. We can't. Not without Grealish.
14 Posted 14/10/2025 at 12:59:24
He put Branthwaite on his arse last season, these boys will struggle.
Harsh to drop Keane, but Jake might be able to handle his pace and physicality.
15 Posted 14/10/2025 at 13:36:29
Remember he went off in the last match v Palace.
16 Posted 14/10/2025 at 13:39:27
Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Keane
Garner Gueye Dewsbury-Hall Mykolenko
Ndiaye Alcaraz McNeil
Subs: Travers, Coleman, Patterson, Iroegbunam, Branthwaite?, Rohl?, Dibling, Beto, Barry
My guess is Moyes will go with the usual back 4 and play Beto instead of McNeil. Still, that's not a bad starting XI, and if Moyes sends them out with the right mentality, we should give Man City a bloody nose!
17 Posted 14/10/2025 at 13:58:19
18 Posted 14/10/2025 at 14:17:22
Wing backs would then be Garner and McNeil.
Then possibly a narrow 3 of Gueye, Iroegbunam and KDK.
Ndiaye then playing off Beto.
The main flaw with this is that:
- Keanes lack of pace moves the back 3 deeper than where you’d want it to be
- moving Garner to RWB weakens the central midfield (Iroegbunam isn’t especially good)
- McNeil is slow and out of form.
- Beto isn’t very good.
Unfortunately by moving to a back 3 you create as many problems as you solve. There isn’t a magic tactical approach or formation etc that puts us in the driving seat.
Realistically we will have to cede possession, defend deep, double up on their wide players and try to eke out a few chances on the break and from set pieces. Shame that we’re still talking in those terms but with each round of spending the squad should become better equipped to properly compete in these gsmes.
19 Posted 14/10/2025 at 14:17:39
20 Posted 14/10/2025 at 14:53:27
Snatch your hands off for a point.
21 Posted 14/10/2025 at 15:18:20
Unfortunately, the manager would never pick that formation or team.
22 Posted 14/10/2025 at 15:25:03
I think Doku is one of the reasons we've got Grealish playing for us!
23 Posted 14/10/2025 at 16:45:40
This is ideal for Beto, who I would hope has enough confidence left after a miserable couple of months and international disappointments.
I would go 4-3-2-1:
Pickford
Coleman Tarkowski O'Brien, Mykolenko
Garner Gana Dewsbury-Hall
Alcaraz Ndiaye
Beto
With Ndiaye dropping in to help Dewsbury-Hall when we're under pressure.
24 Posted 14/10/2025 at 16:45:59
I just find Doku very frustrating to watch at times. Does the hard bits well, then messes up the final ball.
25 Posted 14/10/2025 at 16:53:28
Ndiaye I think is told to concentrate on his low-block duties and that may be the reason he is not getting the ball forward fast enough.
Everton forwards would benefit from a faster supply and their movement would count more in creating chances.
26 Posted 14/10/2025 at 17:36:00
27 Posted 14/10/2025 at 17:55:50
He has been a massive liability last season and he's been awful this season too. As I said wonderful servants and players but not now. I like to see Jake playing centre-back from now on. He is our future at centre-back and in his natural position.
Garner is a great pro and plays well wherever we put him but I'd love to see him play regularly at right-back and utilise his crossing and foward runs from there. That's where the brilliant England coach Lee Carsley used him to great effect.
Let's face it, a player of Garner's intelligence and work ethic can make the easiest position in football all his. Alcaraz or Ndiaye are real Number 10s and one of them should play there regularly with Dewsbury-Hall in central midfield.
For the Man City game, we are without Jack Grealish so I'd play Alcaraz there and Ndiaye left, his next best position. Unfortunately up front it's a toss of a coin as both are useless but at least Beto has a go and occasionally gets a goal.
Barry is new to UK and us but his body language stinks. I hope he proves me wrong. Dibling should start vs Man City, he needs games; he will come good I think.
28 Posted 14/10/2025 at 19:34:56
3-5-2:
Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Keane
Garner Gana Alcaraz Dewesbury-Hall Mykolenko
Ndiaye Beto
29 Posted 14/10/2025 at 21:19:16
Alcaraz and Dewsbury-Hall have neat footwork and an eye for a pass, but their involvement in games is spasmodic.
The problem, I fear, is that they all play too far away from one another. These players show in patches how well they can combine. Unfortunately, there is a Number 9 size hole in the middle of the forward line, into which the ball too frequently disappears.
30 Posted 14/10/2025 at 21:46:38
I like him, I think he's our most dangerous player, and I think he must get really frustrated playing in our current set-up because, when Dewsbury Hall is in the team, then nearly everything seems to go left.
We obviously also go left because of Grealish and this is something Garner also does because he seems to have a very good understanding with Jack Grealish.
Unless Alcaraz is on the pitch, then Everton tend to overlook the right and prefer to attack down the left, which makes me think that Ndiaye must sometimes be thinking to himself that he would like to get a part of the game playing in his strongest position.
31 Posted 15/10/2025 at 05:11:32
Looking further ahead, I also think that when Grealish is back, there is an argument for leaving Ndiaye on the left and bringing Grealish inside.
That would allow Dibling to play on the right and -- dare I say it -- putting Dewsbury-Hall in Gana's spot in the same line-up and formation that I posted @16.
That would have O'Brien, Gana, Iroegbunam, and McNeil ready as subs to come on and close shop.
I think we will give City a game this weekend.
32 Posted 15/10/2025 at 05:27:45
Referee: Tony Harrington.
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Steve Meredith.
Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty
VAR: Nick Hopton.
Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.
33 Posted 15/10/2025 at 09:02:08
We just can’t win with these modern day referees and I’m already fearing the worst because one of them really had no option but to give us a penalty kick, in our last premier league game🤷♂️
34 Posted 15/10/2025 at 09:52:27
The key is to keep possession against City as we will pay for their better footballing squad.
35 Posted 15/10/2025 at 11:09:38
If he doesn't, then all formation permutations are moot.
36 Posted 15/10/2025 at 11:13:03
Refereed us twice last season. Away at Newcastle giving us 4 yellows and the Barcodes 1. We won 1 nil.
Refereed us at Home to Forest, gave us 4 yellows and them 1. We lost 2 nil.
He's refereed 3 Premier League games this season, issuing 15 yellows and zero reds.
Looks like he likes the colour yellow... Dewsbury-Hall beware.
37 Posted 15/10/2025 at 11:32:49
I would take a point now, flooding the midfield and try and counter with Ndiaye and Beto. This is not a game for Garner at right back against Doku with his power and pace, despite feeling he should play more here.
It's a diamond for me
4-1-2-1-2
Pickford
O'Brien Keane Tarkowski Mykolenko
Garner
Gana Iroegbunam
Dewsbury-Hall
Beto Ndiaye
38 Posted 15/10/2025 at 11:44:15
Anders Limpar was saying in the Echo that Barry would profit from having Beto alongside hiim, but the power and skill of Ndiaye together would be worth watching.
Might as well give it a go at the Etihad.
39 Posted 15/10/2025 at 11:52:58
I think I'd probably play Alcaraz behind Beto as they seem to work well together, both feeding off each other's chaos!
I'm not sure I see Iroegbunam as an ideal starter despite his excellent cameo against Palace as his defensive wanderings (along with Gueye's) would leave us too open against a team like City.
40 Posted 15/10/2025 at 12:01:38
Had we been at home, I think I would have gone with the latter.
Just shows you how differently we all see things.
41 Posted 15/10/2025 at 13:02:22
Despite improvements to the squad over summer, without Grealish we're not really able to field a better side than was available to Dyche and Moyes last season.
How have we managed that?
Anyway, no need to shit our pants.
The key to any success for us is boring things like defensive discipline, defensive shape, hard work and hopefully taking the few chances that come our way.
42 Posted 15/10/2025 at 13:18:58
A very conservative looking line-up you've picked there. Looks straight out the David Moyes playbook. Weird given you'll be giving him grief after the game for doing the very things you're advocating now.
I agree with Sam that Alcaraz would do better linking with Beto.
43 Posted 15/10/2025 at 13:19:38
Tim's physicality may well be useful but I guess you're trading that off with the gaps that he leaves.
No perfect solutions as Robert alludes to.
44 Posted 15/10/2025 at 13:30:16
Röhl and Dibling might come good, but I wanted a proper Number 6 and a right winger that delivered straight away. Despite trying, we just couldn't get deals done.
It will be the case of getting a Top 10 finish, and trying again for better players next summer. Some might come good.
45 Posted 15/10/2025 at 15:10:04
It may surprise you to learn that they have won 3 of their 4 matches there this season with their only defeat coming to a very organised Spurs team, who countered very effectively.
46 Posted 15/10/2025 at 15:42:27
47 Posted 15/10/2025 at 16:05:09
A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, in no language in the world can a double positive form a negative.”
What do you mean “Yeah, right!😁
48 Posted 15/10/2025 at 16:18:52
Good formation that.Definitely a step up on Moyes's low block explaining why Nidaye and Grealish are more build up than attack.
49 Posted 15/10/2025 at 16:22:57
50 Posted 15/10/2025 at 16:31:59
...if Branthwaite is fit, you drop Tarky. Keane has been on much much better form.
I'm ok with Beto starting up front and just being a general menace if he's not going to score.
51 Posted 15/10/2025 at 16:54:52
But still think it's him or Alcaraz at 10. Neither are scoring a lot of goals, so that is a limitation for the team.
Seen the calls for him and Garner to play further back behind Alcaraz (at the expense of Gana). That would improve the football quality, but I think it would cost cheap goals.
The defence has benefited from the screening in front of them. And without it, I think it would highlight that theyre all average defenders excluding Branthwaite.
52 Posted 15/10/2025 at 16:57:40
53 Posted 15/10/2025 at 17:26:35
We all see players’ contributions differently I guess. I liked Sigurdsson - a player who would vastly improve our current team in my view. But not everyone did.
Him, Townsend, Richarlison and Baines and Coleman in their prime and we’d have really good team.
54 Posted 15/10/2025 at 18:03:39
We don't have any choice but to play a low block. We have slow defenders.
Sounds like an ideal time to play City to me. Well about as ideal as the time we played Liverpool and you thought that was getting them at a good time. When they had just won in midweek, at home. Had a hundred percent record at home, and away for that matter.
55 Posted 15/10/2025 at 22:15:38
And yet…
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13450498/premier-league-who-makes-it-into-the-unsung-heroes-xi-for-this-season-so-far
56 Posted 16/10/2025 at 01:12:07
EPL Apps 65 all for Arsenal.
Overall career apps by position,
Centre-Back 97
Right-Back 90
Left-Back 29
Def Midfield 16
Apparently the big teams have had informal discussions about having 6 subs and squads of 28. They say its about player safety due to the amount of games being played. What Bollocks. They want to stockpile the best talent and make it even harder, for other so called smaller teams to challenge their dominance. This must be prevented. What say you ?
57 Posted 16/10/2025 at 01:23:41
He can fill in there in emergencies but he is not, and never will be, a full time right back.
Leave him in his true position in our midfield where he is currently performing exceptionally well.
Come January I would sincerely hope we can recruit a player whose natural position is right back. It's an urgent need in my opinion
58 Posted 16/10/2025 at 06:47:26
59 Posted 16/10/2025 at 07:18:19
Pickford
Coleman/obrien ( depends if keanes out)
Tarks
Kean if fit if not obrien
Myko
Garner
Iroegbunam
Dewsbury hall
Alcaraz
Beto
Ndiay
60 Posted 16/10/2025 at 08:07:40
If he gets it right, I can see us snatching a draw from the very jaws of victory...or even victory its self.
Godfrey showed how to play Haarland - 'they don't like it up them' as somebody said, could be a job for O'Brien.
No Mahrez, KdB, Rodri or Walker even. Stones if he plays, has a mistake in him, Beto needs to give him the Godfrey/Haarland treatment.
All moot if Moyes sets us up poorly.
61 Posted 16/10/2025 at 08:19:12
You mean like young Dixon who next year will show just how valuable loaning out young players is, (won't it?) as I've heard nothing about how or where he is or even if he's getting a game anywhere.
Did anyone replace Vaughn, was it, as "loan coordinator"?
62 Posted 16/10/2025 at 08:26:21
Also agree that it is important how Moyes setup and instructs the players.Needs more flexibility and directness in attacking tactics.Less of the control freak stuff.
63 Posted 16/10/2025 at 09:21:44
64 Posted 16/10/2025 at 10:23:21
I think Moyes will include Alcaraz from the start, just hope its not out wide. I would imagine if Keane doesnt start then O,Brien will partner Tarkowski and Garner will play fullback and KDH will play.
Harland is a handful at the best of times and how we keep him quiet will determine the result. Also Doku is a huge threat out wide.
65 Posted 16/10/2025 at 11:17:29
I think what is true is that Doucoure suited us more at the time. His non-stop energy and propensity for clutch goals suited a scrappy Everton. KDH is someone who wants the ball to feet and can distribute well and beat a man on ocassion but to bring the best out of him he needs runners around him and this is something we don't have as both Grealish and Ndiaye prefer to receive the ball deep and as we know there is real absence of dynamic, overlapping full backs. This season Moyes has us as a team who is more comfortable on and with the ball but it's a tricky transition to make especially with a main striker who thrives off counter attacks and balls in behind.
66 Posted 16/10/2025 at 13:04:42
Its a shot to nothing for us, no neutral will fancy us.
That's negative talk I know and there's always some chance of an upset, lets hope so.
Going there to sit back and defend for 90 odd minutes I cant see working though, the problem is superior teams drive you back and force you into defence mode.
Betting is 2/5 City 15/2 Everton and 4/1 a Draw.
67 Posted 16/10/2025 at 13:10:37
Err Jake O Brien, Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson would disagree with you plus Branthwaite to come back.
Likewise so would Marco Silva who played a high line with 3 defenders who weren't quick (including Michael Keane) to deliver us our best finishing position for the bones of a decade and one of our strongest defensive records.
Err how many of those teams played Liverpool after Europe yet they struggled in every league match they played this season bar one which was over after 30 mins.You couldn't have picked a better time to play them and have a go with their fragility in defence.
68 Posted 16/10/2025 at 13:22:27
KDH V Doucoure. That's it in a nutshell.Doucoure suited the time Everton were in, now they need the final pass rather than Doucoure 's flick when he ran out of road.i think Grealish and Nidaye out deep is more to do with Moyes's low block.The forward play which be better and faster if they came more central.Both KDH and Beto would benefit.
Sometimes when I watch Everton in the first half attack seems a secondary consideration, with more defend and built up play.For me it seems Moyes is trying to bring his control onto the pitch and his thinking is of a old man's stage . not quick enough.
69 Posted 16/10/2025 at 14:57:51
Err... Jake O'Brien, Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson would disagree with you; plus Branthwaite to come back.
Gees what a choice. Yes, you can play a high defence. But one fella is injured and the other two got murdered at Bradford, so Man City will be piss easy.
3 points here we come...
70 Posted 16/10/2025 at 21:49:57
"Err Jake O Brien, Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson would disagree with you plus Branthwaite to come back."
I'd rather start with a back four situated behind the goal line than see either of Aznou or Patterson come in.
"Likewise so would Marco Silva who played a high line with 3 defenders who weren't quick (including Michael Keane) to deliver us our best finishing position for the bones of a decade and one of our strongest defensive records."
Zouma ? He was fairly mobile and helped Keane out.
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1 Posted 13/10/2025 at 23:18:41
With the talent we have now Moyes has to try something different. I did say before we signed Grealish, that he tends to slow the game down, and he has started to revert to his Pep Instructions of keep possession.
Any of our forwards I would have in the side instead of Beto or Barry. False nine time, Moyes, false nine time.