An examination of the changes to the starting 11 that David Moyes could make for Everton’s next game at home to Manchester City
After back-to-back stoppage time defeats, Everton must wait another week until they return to action at home to Manchester City in what is their seventh Monday night fixture of the season.
Although manager David Moyes won six out of his last eight matches against City during his first spell as Blues boss, Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in their most recent 18 fixtures against Everton since he suffered a 4-0 loss to Ronald Koeman’s men on his first visit to Goodison Park in 2017.
Moyes will be waiting to see if Beto – who had scored four goals in his last three matches before missing the 2-1 loss at West Ham United due to concussion – is fit to return to the side and spearhead the attack. If not, Thierno Barry could again lead the line, but the French striker has now scored just once in his last 11 games.
Iliman Ndiaye had a frustrating time on both wings at the London Stadium but still looks likely to retain his place, but Dwight McNeil could be facing competition from both Tyrique George, who replaced him against the Hammers, and Tyler Dibling.
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall should remain in the side after he netted his eighth goal of the season, but while James Garner and Idrissa Gueye are the incumbent pair deeper in central midfield, the latter, who turns 37 in September, appeared somewhat leggy in the capital.
Moyes is not short of alternative options for the engine room in the shape of Tim Iroegbunam, who came on, plus Merlin Rohl and Harrison Armstrong who were both unused substitutes.
With Jarrad Branthwaite now ruled out for the rest of the season, there seems little that Everton can do when it comes to shuffling the pack in defence other than move Jake O’Brien from right-back to replace either James Tarkowski or Michael Keane at centre-back.
However, club captain Seamus Coleman has struggled to stay fit when selected. Meanwhile, the manager seems reluctant to select Nathan Patterson having revealed that his fellow Glaswegian was close to making an exit during the final days of the winter transfer window while admitting that the club have been actively pursuing a new right-back in the transfer market for over a year.