Everton are always up for derby day, but the Hill Dickinson will provide a supersonic boom on Sunday as David Moyes‘ side step out to take on struggling Liverpool in the Premier League.
It’s been a grinding season for the Toffees, but they have really come into their own over the past several months, going from strength to strength and now in with an outside chance of a long-awaited return to European competition. They are one point behind seventh-place Brentford, so it’s hardly outside the realm of possibility.
Still, while Arne Slot’s side are well out of sorts, they have enough quality to punish any sloppiness from the hosts. In that, Moyes will now he needs to get the team selection perfect, and that may prompt him to drop Dwight McNeil.
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Why Everton should drop Dwight McNeil
McNeil, 26, is a talented playmaker who is not maximising his skillset in an Everton shirt. Across 19 appearances in the Premier League this term, he is yet to break his duck and has produced just one assist. He has created one big chance and averages 0.6 key passes each match.
A key pass is a pass that directly leads to a shot at the opponent’s goal.
Dwight McNeil for Everton
Last time out, as Everton salvaged a point at Brentford through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s late strike, the former Burnley winger flattered to deceive, lasting 74 minutes before being hooked.
Some would argue that he should have come off sooner, ineffective against the Bees’ resilient backline.
Dwight McNeil vs Brentford
Match Stats
#
Minutes played
74′
Goals + Assists
0 + 0
Touches
38
Shots (on target)
3 (0)
Accurate passes
18/24 (75%)
Chances created
0
Crosses
0/4
Possession lost
14x
Dribbles
0/0
Ball recoveries
5
Ground duels
0/2
McNeil is a player capable of the sublime, but he’s anything but prolific, too often drifting through games and failing to make proper use of his natural gifts.
Moyes’ side will need to be on their A-game against Liverpool, and McNeil might notn offer them what they need. They need mavericks to loosen their rivals’ screws.
Jack Grealish would be perfect, but the Three Lions man is, of course, injured. However, Moyes could still unleash Everton’s other version of the on-loan Manchester City man.
Moyes must unleash Everton’s new Jack Grealish
In the 74th minute, Tyrique George replaced McNeil at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The young winger made a positive impact, hitting the target with a wicked effort, finding his man with a cross and winning a ground duel. That’s more than McNeil could present, and the Chelsea youth’s energy and enthusiasm could go a long way against this uncertain Liverpool side.
George is a loanee, like Grealish, and while he and his older compatriot are on two different ends of the spectrum, they are both fleet-footed and are capable of making a big difference in attacking areas.
Everton signed the youngster in January on a deal until the end of the season, with the option to make the move permanent this summer. So far, he has only made six Premier League appearances for the Merseysiders, starting once, against the Toffees.
Dewsbury-Hall said the 20-year-old is “very good technically” and that he “can link play”. Everton need this against ‘Pool, who have been exposed by pacy wingers any number of times throughout the campaign.
Fans are clamouring for George to be handed a more important role by Moyes. He is direct and dangerous and it is refreshing to see. It certainly has a bit of Grealish about him, and like the injured superstar, he is on loan from a ‘big six’ club.
The Scottish manager has long been unwilling to hand youngsters minutes in the Premier League, but surely an exception can be made here for an up-and-comer who has a Grealish-esque quality and an X-factor that could down the Reds.
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