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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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2 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:53:26
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.
3 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:58:06
4 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:58:54
Speechless.
6 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:08:00
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.
7 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:08:38
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.
8 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:10:51
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!
9 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:12:34
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?
10 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:14:46
Different to our day, this Twitter and the other ones spread it very fast, I suppose.
Enjoy the game.
11 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:15:40
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?
12 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:16:33
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.
13 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:17:14
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...
14 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:19:17
Chase the game - leave gaps - go 2 behind then swap Barry for Beto in a cunning Baldrick-like plan!?
15 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:21:52
It reminds me of Frank Spencer and his aptitude test in the RAF with Fulton Mackay.
Fingers crossed he proves the doubters wrong!
16 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:23:08
As Neil Young said on his last visit to Goodison - If you cant be with the one you love. Love the one youre with
17 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:24:56
Dour Davey strikes again.
Is Dyche available?
18 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:26:32
19 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:27:18
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!!
20 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:27:39
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.
21 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:28:28
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.
22 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:28:38
23 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:31:51
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.
25 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:38:09
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.
26 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:45:40
Hope the lads play their best game of the season and somehow smash the reds, and prove all us doubters wrong!
27 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:47:06
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.
28 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:47:35
29 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:49:58
Not exactly brave or inspirational but it would be a big 3 points against an in-form team.
Good luck, lads.
30 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:50:58
31 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:51:06
32 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:51:24
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.
33 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:52:58
34 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:54:33
Despite being underwhelmed with the starting XI still think we can beat these today, COYB!
35 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:55:21
36 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:56:07
"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."
37 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:57:46
No way that happens at the other place
38 Posted 23/02/2026 at 19:58:38
As for Beto/Barry, I'd go Barry as well, because
39 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:00:17
I'd go Barry because I think Beto is just, well, he's just shit.
40 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:03:39
41 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:05:12
42 Posted 23/02/2026 at 20:08:05
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1 Posted 23/02/2026 at 18:50:22
Attack! Attack!! Attack!!!
Nah...