Everton’s already threadbare squad has been stretched thinner heading into the final stretch of games of the year.
Following the 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the Toffees have several concerns with multiple key players missing in midfield and defence. Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Röhl have missed most of the season, with the German midfielder closer to a return than Branthwaite.
Captain Seamus Coleman has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and is expected to be on the shelf for a while.
Key players Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye have also departed to join the Senegal national team camp for the Africa Cup of Nations. The Lions of Teranga will begin their campaign against Botswana on December 23. One of the favourites for the tournament, should Senegal make it to the final scheduled in Rabat on January 18, the duo will miss as many as seven games for the Blues.
Meanwhile, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall suffered a hamstring problem on his return to Stamford Bridge and it remains to be seen how serious his injury is. The 27-year-old had been instrumental in the Blues’ recent positive run and his absence was felt in west London with Chelsea scoring a few minutes after he came off.
James Garner and Jack Grealish are also walking on eggshells at the moment. Both of them were taken off late in the game against Enzo Maresca’s side due to precaution. Garner is one yellow card away from suspension, while Grealish “felt something in his hamstring”, according to David Moyes.
Iliman Ndiaye’s absence could lead to Dwight McNeil or Tyler Dibling entering the gaffer’s plans. McNeil has played 91 minutes, while Dibling, the Toffees’ most expensive summer signing, has played 82 minutes of Premier League football so far this season.
Dibling, in particular, looked impressive in his little cameo towards the end at Stamford Bridge and given his potential, should start receiving more game-time going forward.
Charly Alcaraz and McNeil remain the favourites to play in the number 10 role, depending on the severity of Dewsbury-Hall’s injury and the length of his absence. Meanwhile, Tim Iroegbunam is the only option at Moyes’ disposal to partner James Garner in the middle.
The defence, for the moment, picks itself. James Tarkowski, Michael Keane, Jake O’Brien and Vitalii Mykolenko have played the majority of the season together and although the manager also has options in Nathan Patterson and Adam Aznou, neither of them has played a single minute of Premier League football so far this season.
David Moyes’ hands are pretty tied, with the Toffees squad reduced to 13 available players (reserve goalkeepers, Aznou and Patterson notwithstanding) at the moment. Any further injuries or suspensions could lead to sleepless nights for the fans as the Blues prepare to host league leaders Arsenal this weekend.
Reader Comments (42)
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2 Posted 15/12/2025 at 16:49:50
Are you being pessimistic or absent-minded?
3 Posted 15/12/2025 at 17:14:34
These are winnable games, but we need players available to compete.
Burnley
Forest
Wolves
Brentford
Sunderland (FA Cup)
Leeds
4 Posted 15/12/2025 at 17:58:19
Use McNeil and Dibling as the wide men. Alcaraz as the No 10.
5 Posted 15/12/2025 at 18:38:23
If Grealish is not at 100%, doubt he's going to get risked with so many players missing.
6 Posted 15/12/2025 at 18:42:14
The players to look like scoring this season have been Grealish, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall.
We cannot afford to be without them for too long so maybe backs to the wall for Arsenal and then hopefully Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall back after that.
Hopefully Rohl can be ready and it is not too long before Jarrad Branthwaite is back.
It would be helpful if the recruitment team can be ready to pull the trigger early January for a decent striker and at least one full-back.
7 Posted 15/12/2025 at 18:58:41
I like you thought it was good idea for Harrison Armstrong to go out on loan and get game time which he wasnt likely to get competing with Dewsbury-Hall, Garner, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam and McNeil. But seeing as Gana is at the Afcon, Dewsbury-Hall might be out for most of January, then it would really put us under pressure if any of the other midfield players get injured.
We will certainly be down to the bare bones against Arsenal and, if Grealish has also picked up a hamstring injury, we will need all the bodies we can. I hope Dibling now gets a run of games and, maybe when Ndaiye comes back, we might be able to move him into the Number 10 role if Dibling does well.
8 Posted 15/12/2025 at 21:04:50
Players with few minutes, O'Neill, Dibling, are suddenly going to have to do 90 because there's no bench.
9 Posted 15/12/2025 at 21:41:53
Who the fuck is O'Neill?
His name is McNeil.
McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil McNeil
10 Posted 15/12/2025 at 22:09:30
If that's the team that's starts... we will get battered.
11 Posted 15/12/2025 at 22:44:43
Alice will not be available. :-)
13 Posted 15/12/2025 at 23:19:31
14 Posted 15/12/2025 at 23:24:13
Thank You!!! I've been reading about this “O'Neill” on ToffeeWeb for ages but been too polite to call it out... lol
15 Posted 15/12/2025 at 23:40:41
16 Posted 15/12/2025 at 23:44:52
Let's hope we don't sign McTominay…..
18 Posted 16/12/2025 at 06:20:23
So it doesn't bode well for Saturday.
19 Posted 16/12/2025 at 07:13:28
By the way, I heard a rumour doing the rounds over here that Elon Musk is interested in buying Saints. Apparently, Alex Murphy is his sporting hero. Who'd have thought, eh?
20 Posted 16/12/2025 at 07:21:18
Can't stand the fella.
21 Posted 16/12/2025 at 09:03:21
Now he has Dewsbury-Hall with a hamstring injury and possibly Grealish has a hamstring problem, so that's 4 first team regulars missing in the busiest time of the season.
Also James Garner is 1 booking away from a 1-game suspension.
22 Posted 16/12/2025 at 09:18:01
But it looks like we might have to recall him.
23 Posted 16/12/2025 at 09:24:07
Yes, it is a very depleted squad and will get weaker until we are reinforced in January.
On Saturday, we play Arsenal, who are suffering from their loss of injuries, and then Wolves, who are without a win all season, but made them struggle to get a win in their last game at home... Maybe we can go one better and get at least a point!
24 Posted 16/12/2025 at 10:38:36
I really hope we have a striker lined up to sign as soon as the window opens. Both Barry and Beto are just not good enough and if we want to move up the table then a decent striker is a must.
I know January isn't the best time to sign players but, given our striking options, we don't have a choice.
25 Posted 16/12/2025 at 10:48:06
Some of the strongest teams have very deep squads. Some players are desperate for playing time in a World Cup year.
Some teams need to offload financially.
The business we do, or don't do in January (including loans) may well be the difference between finishing in a European place and finishing 13th or 14th.
I sincerely hope we can add a couple of players in January.
26 Posted 16/12/2025 at 11:16:50
Pity Arthur Scargill isn't still about.
27 Posted 16/12/2025 at 11:46:46
Nevermind, the only point is football is football and the ball is round. We the fans are there regardless, and with never-ending hope.
Ajay #1 Mind you, add Röhl to the subs.
28 Posted 16/12/2025 at 11:56:27
We may benefit with free kicks or corners.
29 Posted 16/12/2025 at 11:57:43
I just hope Wolves get a win before we play them. You know how generous we can be!
30 Posted 16/12/2025 at 12:16:39
But the ball retention will be horrific.
31 Posted 16/12/2025 at 12:30:55
Nice to see your still here, Darren.
Paul @ 18, Murphy was just about the best British player ever. I used to watch him as a kid when Saints played Wigan. Him and Mick Sullivan were certain to get sent off every derby fixture. We had Boston but Murphy was the ultimate player you wanted on your side in a battle.
32 Posted 16/12/2025 at 12:40:35
Grealish only played 25-odd games most seasons in the Premier League, Rohl likewise, and Dewsbury-Hall hasn't been conditioned to play every minute of a Premier League season and he's 27.
Moyes's ridiculous decision to send Harrison Armstrong to Preston is now backfiring and the manager has no excuses as he will now need to rely on the likes of McNeil and Dibling who have been dreadfully mismanaged and underused this season.
I seem in the minority in that I was furious with the match at Chelsea and some of the posts post-match. For me, we had a brilliant 15 minutes before half-time and we're unlucky to go in 2-0 down. Second half we were woeful and it could have been embarrassing yet Moyes never reacted. It was like he was happy to keep the score down.
When he eventually made changes, the subs nearly embarrassed him as, for the last 10 minutes, we caused them all sorts of problems and we could have unbelievably nicked a draw. Yet Moyes made the changes to save his players.
Moyes once again picked Keane and, just as at Newcastle and Liverpool, they exposed his side and Gana was once again woeful. Such a difference when O'Brien played there and Garner at right-back.
Mykolenko took a lot of stick but, for the first Chelsea goal, Ndiaye pointed to watch Neto and both Gueye and Palmer blocked his view of the ball so he couldn't see the pass and why he reacted so late. Keane could see everything yet his positioning and flat-footedness proved fatal.
Mykolenko was poor for the second Chelsea goal but him getting skinned like that was a rarity and once again Keane and Gueye could have bailed him out but both were poor.
Some of the highest goal and assist wingers, like Semenyo, Wilson, Salah, Mbuemo and Kudus, all got very little change from the Ukrainian unlike the other full-backs they faced. Indeed Saka is probably due a performance against Myko as he has only ever scored one goal when he has been on the pitch.
The cries that Dewsbury-Hall would have made a difference are fanciful as, against the other Champions League teams we faced, we lost all four by an aggregate of 11-1. He was poor in all of them.
As for the criticism of Barry, he was one of nine players who were poor yet once again gets singled out. Twice he got into good positions. The first, he was unlucky that the keeper took it away from him, and the second, Tarkowski unbelievably chose to go for goal from that angle when Barry would have had a tap-in.
The lack of service was once again criminal and I'd love to know the striker people want who would score goals in Moyes's set-up.
33 Posted 16/12/2025 at 13:52:58
I will keep faith for now. As Kieran has pointed out well, Moyes is at his best when under pressure.
Most all of the happy Moyes talk has come from starters. Let's hope the replacements take their chances well and dig in on defence. It will take commitment from all.
35 Posted 16/12/2025 at 15:18:43
Going out on loan for a season will do him and us really well for the future. Leon Osman and Seamus Coleman came back after a season in that league twice the players they were.
The lad is playing with freedom and a smile on his face -- great decision by the gaffer to send him there.
As for the squad being thin, of course it's a massive challenge... but one that happens to every team every season.
Gueye out; brilliant news -- he's too old and clumsy now but has been a great servant.
Ndiaye is irreplaceable but hopefully Tyler Dibling gets a run and McNeil is not the worst wide player around.
Go defensive against Arsenal. I'd play three at the back for this one. Why have a go at Keane, Connor? He's been one of our best players this season and far better in defence than Tarkowski, who is another who needs to be moved on.
Regarding strikers, they are like gold dust but two goals between them two heading into the Christmas half-way period of season, it's disgraceful.
There are strikers out there who can do better but long term probably not the answer: Dyvbk and Ferguson at Roma are definitely better than our two... but finding a good one ready for the Premier League is hard.
37 Posted 16/12/2025 at 19:50:17
38 Posted 16/12/2025 at 19:51:03
39 Posted 16/12/2025 at 20:12:14
40 Posted 16/12/2025 at 20:38:01
Ndiaye, Gana, Branthwaite, Rohl, Coleman, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, potentially unavailable is a fair burden to carry. Most are starters, and all would make the matchday squad. Some are match winners, whilst Branthwaite is a top talent who elevates the defence.
We don't have a deep squad, so it is concerning to have that number of players out. The fixtures are favourable in the coming weeks, but we are running out of players.
It massively increases the pressure on the remaining players. Keane has been injured, Tarkowski had an injury end of last season, Garner battled back from injury problems, and Mykolenko picks up injuries.
41 Posted 16/12/2025 at 20:46:04
42 Posted 16/12/2025 at 20:51:40
Was it not a gamble that backfired badly to play both, especially with Ndiaye also unavailable now, and the extra fixtures over the Xmas period?
44 Posted 16/12/2025 at 21:06:38
Fuming reply on road.
In Citroën 1.1?
47 Posted 17/12/2025 at 15:38:17
Your argument that Armstrong out on loan will benefit us in the future is just pure fantasy in my opinion and your hypothesis that he is doing well due to being against inferior players is nonsensical.
Moyes had already decided to send him on loan before preseason. He had already done all he needed in the Championship and proved in preseason that he was the best midfielder against 3 Premier League teams.
Therefore, he was best in our team and he did so against the standard we need to operate against. He didn't come up against Champions League standard but all our midfielders have struggled against these teams regardless.
Joshua King, Tyrique George, Aiden Heaven, Acheampong, Lewis Skelly and Bournemouth have about four all kept in their squad. Even fucking Dyche has played Zac Abbott.
As for why I picked out Keane, well I can't blame Tarkowski on this occasion for Keane's contribution?
You, like many others, say Keane has played well. Go watch the Wolves goals, Newcastle, Spurs, Liverpool. All managers clearly targeting Keane and succeeding. He has been a liability but, because he isn't doing the individual mistakes of previous seasons, then the narrative is that he is playing well. I think he deserves credit but the sooner Jarrad Branthwaite is back, or Jake O'Brien is there, the better for us.
You are right that Tarkowski has been awful but I think missing preseason and playing with Keane are the reasons why. Tarkowski keeps dropping so deep because he is worried both about his own pace but also the fact he has to cover Keane. They only perform well when backs to the wall -- and it's no coincidence James looks a different player alongside both Jake and Jarrad.
48 Posted 17/12/2025 at 15:54:36
As articulated, it did Coleman, Osman and Branthwaite a lot good going out on loan. They kicked on from the experience hugely. Does it work for every player? Of course not.
That said, based on numbers, I think we need him back now. He looks a good footballer to me, and I'd be interested to see him amongst Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish. There's a good level of experience there to get him through games.
49 Posted 17/12/2025 at 19:26:38
Harrison Armstrong has proved good enough. He has also proved he won't learn much in the Championship as he has already conquered that level.
If Moyes was manager of Barca he would have sent Lamal out on loan until he was 19. Gordon did nothing in the Championship yet flourished when back at Everton.
In Armstrongs case not only he is of a standard good enough to compete but he actually had no barriers to entry
Gueye was highly likely to regress, he was already known to go to Afcon.
Garner was likely to be needed in the full back roles.
Rohl has injury history and we don't know how good he will be.
Iroegbunam was in the same position as Armstrong but doesn't have his quality.
I doubt that the majority of Premier League managers would have made the decision Moyes did in his position.
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1 Posted 15/12/2025 at 16:24:00
Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Keane Mykolenko
Garner Iroegbunam
Dibling Alcaraz McNeil
Barry
Subs: Beto, Aznou, Patterson, and errr…