23/02/2026 40comments  |  Jump to last
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Everton are at home again for Monday Night Football with Manchester United the visitors to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton have nearly everyone fit for the clash but are without Jake O’Brien for this game. The Irish international was sent off against Bournemouth for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Jack Grealish is the only other casualty, recovering from surgery on his season-ending hamstring injury. But Charly Alacarz and Mark Travers are two names missing entirely from the squad tonight.

David Moyes makes three changes as Michael Keane, Tim Iroegbunam and Harrison Armstrong are named in the starting XI in place of Vitalii Mykolenko, Tyrique George and Jake O'Brien.

First Half

The Red Devils kicked off, Barry in quick to charge down the early hoof from Lammens, but it went behind. Dewsbury-Hall was also quick in the press, but there was a sequence of alternate throw-ins. 

But Man Utd got forward and somehow failed to score, Vunha and Dalo seeing their shots blocked as Tarkowski got behind Pickford to clear off the line. 

Everton countered at pace but Gana's shot was blocked. It was lively stuff early on, the crowd responding, but Everton's winning press was not supported by the required possession. 

 

Everton: Pickford, Garner, Tarkowski, Keane, Branthwaite, Gana, Iroegbunam, Armstrong, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry.

Subs: King, Coleman, Patterson, Mykolenko, Röhl, George, Dibling, McNeil, Beto.

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Yoro, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo. 

Subs: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, Mazraoui, Moorhouse, Fletcher, Ugarte, Sesko, Zirkzee.

Referee: Darren England. 

 

Reader Comments (40)

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Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:50:22
Maybe that really is 4-3-3...

Attack! Attack!! Attack!!!

Nah...

Christy Ring
2 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:53:26
Tony was 100% correct with the team, unbelievable!

Totally flabbergasted, not an attacking line-up, our best centre-back and best midfielder playing out of position, and Armstrong, a midfielder, probably out of position also on the wing. Tim is no replacement for Garner.

John Collins
3 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:58:06
Can any of the Moyes backers tell me what hes trying to achieve tactically with that line-up?
Andrew Ellams
4 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:58:54
Looks like the team Tony posted earlier on the other thread is bang on.

Speechless.

Jay Lewis
6 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:08:00
John,

I think he's trying to wind us up? Armstrong is not a winger.

As for Garner at right-back, I know he can play there but, for fuck's sake, he should be in the middle.

Darren Hind
7 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:08:38
Hope he's not on tonight. I won't be there and I don't want to be listening to him all night.

I hadn't seen the team Tony put up @60, but I kinda knew he would be right as soon as I read his post. Very disturbing the way half the city know the team 6 hours before it is officially announced.

It's happening with increasing regularity.

Barry Williams
8 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:10:51
Never claim to know better than the managers and the coaches '- but I am a bit flummoxed by this line-up at home!

Shoehorn FC is the new name at the Hill "we haven't a Dickie what's going on" Stadium!

A right back, a left back and a right winger on the bench.

But on the pitch: A central midfielder playing right back, a centre back playing left back and a centre midfielder playing right wing?

Where is Alcaraz?

I hope me is wrong and it all goes to plan - but I am really scratching my head here!

I hope it is not another - go 1 behind and then change it to a line-up at least representing something that resembles the players in their best and correct positions - and then chase the game at home - again!

Happy to have big sized ostrich egg all over my face at full-time!

John Collins
9 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:12:34
Sickening what hes doing with Armstrong, Jay.

I think he will end up a very good player, he is 100% definitely not a wide player.

Decision taken early on the young winger George?

John Collins
10 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:14:46
I thought exactly the same, Darren.

Different to our day, this Twitter and the other ones spread it very fast, I suppose.

Enjoy the game.

Christy Ring
11 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:15:40
That's a Dyche line-up, toothless. How can he play our best midfielder at fullback?

How many times did Tim lose the ball when he came on against Bournemouth?

Two right-backs on the bench and no Alcaraz, considering he said we had a fully fit squad apart from Grealish?

Andy Meighan
12 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:16:33
How come us as mere fans can see that Armstrong is not a winger, yet an experienced manager with hundreds and hundreds of top-flight games under his belt thinks he is???

Also, the inclusion of Gueye again, who's struggled since Afcon, yet he's blanked Rohl.

Feel like turning back and going home. I hope I'm wrong but I've a feeling it's going to be one of those nights.

Darren Hind
13 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:17:14
Well, guys, whether we agree or not, this is the team and we have to get totally behind it.

As Neil Young said on his last visit to Goodison -- If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with...

Barry Williams
14 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:19:17
Will it be the usual - go 1 behind - ponder shit - then put players in their correct positions.

Chase the game - leave gaps - go 2 behind then swap Barry for Beto in a cunning Baldrick-like plan!?

Mike Hayes
15 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:21:52
Predictable - every Evertonian could have picked that first eleven; Moyes loves to put square pegs in round holes.

It reminds me of Frank Spencer and his aptitude test in the RAF with Fulton Mackay.

Fingers crossed he proves the doubters wrong!

Darren Hind
16 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:23:08
Well guys whether we agree or not, this is the team and we have to get totally behind it.

As Neil Young said on his last visit to Goodison - If you cant be with the one you love. Love the one youre with

Simon Dalzell
17 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:24:56
What the...

Dour Davey strikes again.

Is Dyche available?

Annika Herbert
18 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:26:32
I really hope I am wrong, but I have no confidence in that line-up.
Jay Lewis
19 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:27:18
I agree that Armstrong will be a very good player for us but it's not fair sticking him on the wing; he'd better through the middle, but I can understand Dewsbury-Hall getting that spot.

Then again, he could also play behind with Garner instead of Gana Gueye and Tim Iroegbunam.

Tyrique George played well against Bournemouth in my opinion and I'd prefer to see him starting on the wing.

Oh well, let's see if Moyes can prove us wrong, COYB!!

Ged Simpson
20 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:27:39
Darren... I suspect for many years we have annoyed the shite out of each other. For fun.

But now you mentioned Mr Young. I may even agree with 5% of what you say now. Seriously Great reference.

Tonight? "Down By The River" I will listen again if we win... or lose tbh.

Iain Johnston
21 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:28:28
Er... which way up is the team sheet? Oh, right yeah Pickford is the clue, he's in goal.

Another formation concocted using a Sharpie and a blindfold.

For fuck's sake, Moyes, show a sign, any sign at all, that you have an ounce of intestinal fortitude and a vertebral column.

Christy Ring
22 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:28:38
Can I just say Rohl's best performance this season was against Villa, and he hasn't played any minutes since, which is a bit strange also?
Conor McCourt
23 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:31:51
Some crying on here before a ball is kicked.

Garner is poor alongside Gana and we have done well when he's played in either full-back positions but especially right.

Garner overlapping with Armstrong inside should provide balance and help control midfield.

Amad is quick and skillful, a bit like Neto, so I can understand Branthwaite.

I don't like the centre-back pairing or no Alcaraz on the bench but the rest as expected.

Jay Lewis
25 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:38:09
Christy @22,

If you get an opportunity to start and put in a really good performance where the team also gets a win against a decent team, only to be dropped again once the manager's favourites are back, what kind of motivation does that give you?

I think we've all had similar experiences in a job, such as gone for promotion, only for someone else to get the job because they're friends with the boss or his/her family etc. I don't think that's very good man management, tbh.

Rob Hooton
26 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:45:40
Apologies for doubting Tony earlier. I'm still scratching my head wondering what on earth the plan is.

Hope the lads play their best game of the season and somehow smash the reds, and prove all us doubters wrong!

Christy Ring
27 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:47:06
Conor #23

But Garner at 6, Dewsbury-Hall at 8 and Armstrong at 10 excelled together when Gueye was away.

I'm worried having Gueye and Tim together, and hope no early yellow for Tim.

Paul Griffiths
28 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:47:35
Another Neil Young song for Moysey: On the Beach.
Lee Courtliff
29 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:49:58
Bizarre line up, truly baffling selections from Moyes. But, and it's a big but, if we play like we're the away team, then we might nick something.

Not exactly brave or inspirational but it would be a big 3 points against an in-form team.

Good luck, lads.

Dave Abrahams
30 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:50:58
McNeil will be used tonight which won’t bother me.
Andrew Clare
31 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:51:06
A very negative lineup. Looks like a backs to the wall performance coming up.Can’t see anything positive happening tonight.
Conor McCourt
32 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:51:24
Christy I agree with your midfield but Moyes ain't gonna play KDH deep unless forced.

Garner at full back won3 drawn 1 lost 1

I'm happy that midfield has been broken up as Garner isn't the same player alongside Gueye.

In fairness to Moyes George didn't take his chance. I would like Dibbling with Garner outside but he's not a Moyes player.

Jay Lewis
33 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:52:58
Paul @28 Another song for Moyes, Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the middle with you
Neil Tyrrell
34 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:54:33
I'm fairly confident Garner will do a job at RB but equally expect to miss him in midfield. Patterson never looked better than when he got a brief run of games when Keane was suspended, can't believe he wasn't first choice RB today. Also would have Beto instead of Barry for his physicality. Outside of Barry, Moyes really doesn't rate any of our most recent signings does he?

Despite being underwhelmed with the starting XI still think we can beat these today, COYB!

Joe McMahon
35 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:55:21
This line up, actually has me stuck for words 🫤😡
Michael Kenrick
36 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:56:07
Explaining his decision to play centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite at full-back, David Moyes has just told Sky Sports: "I think some of the best teams, you look at Man City over recent seasons, they've not been shy to do it when they have had to.

"Jarrad is more than comfortable to be a left-back as well as a centre-back. He's quick, big, gives us the size which we were a little bit concerned about not having big Jake [O'Brien] tonight.

"He's a really talented player but we are trying to manage his minutes after coming back from his hamstring injury and Michael Keane and James Tarkowski have been doing really well this season. Hopefully they keep performing as well as they have done."

Andrew Ellams
37 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:57:46
Z Cars starts and Sky still showing the clueless pundits showing us stats on teams who have move grounds.

No way that happens at the other place

Jay Lewis
38 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:58:38
Neil, see my post @25, same goes for Patterson.

As for Beto/Barry, I'd go Barry as well, because

Jay Lewis
39 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:00:17
I somehow pressed send and can't edit?

I'd go Barry because I think Beto is just, well, he's just shit.

Jay Lewis
40 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:03:39
Problem with Sky is having to listen to Spitty
Shaun Parker
41 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:05:12
I see the ex Utd player and Utd fan Rooney is in the crowd.
Jay Lewis
42 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:08:05
Why is Gana dressed for a baseball game, fucking pussy, it's not even cold

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