Everton got here away from Outdated Trafford final Monday buoyant — their 1-0 win over Manchester United earned on the again of a resolute defensive show, with the Toffees overcoming a numerical drawback following Idrissa Gana Gueye’s early sending-off.
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Gueye’s spat with Michael Keane resulted within the midfielder changing into the primary participant to be despatched off in a Premier League sport for combating with their very own team-mate since Riccardo Fuller for Stoke Metropolis in 2008.
Whereas Gueye was within the incorrect, the hastiness with which referee Tony Harrington brandished his purple card ought to have resulted in a commonsense strategy from the powers that be when Everton inevitably appealed the three-game ban. That enchantment, although, fell on deaf ears.
It signifies that Gueye will probably play only one fixture (in opposition to Chelsea on 13 December) earlier than heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
However with Everton managing to get the factors with out him at Outdated Trafford, there was hope, heading into Saturday’s residence sport in opposition to Newcastle United, that others would step as much as assist fill the void. A , although, leaves David Moyes with some huge inquiries to reply forward of Tuesday’s journey to Bournemouth.
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What went incorrect for Everton in opposition to Newcastle?
With Merlin Röhl recovering from a hernia operation, Moyes was in the end down to 2 choices: Tim Iroegbunam or Charly Alcaraz.
Iroegbunam had taken his possibilities after they got here lately, delivering respectable cameos from the bench in opposition to Sunderland and Man Utd, whereas taking part in properly for an hour after beginning in opposition to Fulham previous to the November worldwide break. A extra naturally defensive participant, he appeared the logical match.
Alcaraz, in the meantime, affords a extra dynamic, attacking menace, however is extra suited to taking part in behind the striker than deeper.
It was not shocking, then, that Moyes turned to Iroegbunam, however in a short time on Saturday, it turned abundantly clear that Everton can’t play the identical means if they don’t have Gueye within the facet.
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Newcastle, time and time once more, carved via Everton’s midfield. romping to a 4-1 triumph. Iroegbunam regarded misplaced; with out the expertise or vitality of Gueye subsequent to him, the previous Aston Villa midfielder was uncovered — his positioning off the ball can at occasions let him down, and Newcastle capitalised. He was at fault for the Magpies’ third aim, as he inexplicably misplaced out to Anthony Elanga, who teed up Nick Woltemade to attain on the stroke of half-time.
Alcaraz changed Iroegbunam at half-time and provided extra, lashing a thunderous strike in opposition to the crossbar, although he’s no defensive midfielder, and James Garner was unable to plug the gaping holes left both facet of him.
Not that Everton’s midfield was the one downside. Michael Keane dived out of defence needlessly inside 30 seconds of kick-off, getting spun by Woltemade, who launched Elanga to power the nook from which Malick Thiaw scored the opener. Jordan Pickford spilled Lewis Miley’s shot for Newcastle’s second, and the Toffees’ defence was shambolic as Thiaw doubled his tally simply earlier than the hour.
The one optimistic was that Garner and Iroegbunam each prevented a reserving that may have seen them serve a one-game suspension for tallying up 5 yellow playing cards to this point within the 2025-26 season.
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So, what options may Moyes have a look at?
Who begins in midfield for Everton vs Bournemouth?
Moyes may probably transfer Jake O’Brien inside to type a again three, however the query then turns into: Who performs at right-back? Seamus Coleman lasted simply 10 minutes at Outdated Trafford earlier than succumbing to a hamstring challenge and Nathan Patterson shouldn’t be totally match, and has not been trusted by Moyes regardless.
That signifies that 4-2-3-1, or a variation of it, is more likely to stay in place for now. However with out Gueye, the off-the-ball strategy has to alter. Everton can’t be diving in, their defence can’t be stepping up recklessly; there are too many gaps, and Bournemouth have the tempo and energy to take benefit.
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Iroegbunam failed his audition on Saturday however, maybe if Moyes switched to a flatter three and requested Garner to play deeper, then a box-to-box function may go well with Iroegbunam, with in-form Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor taking part in an analogous function on the opposite facet.
If Moyes needs to stick with his 4-2-3-1, then he have to be courageous; Alcaraz ought to begin within the Quantity 10 place, and Dewsbury-Corridor and Garner must be compact and disciplined defensively. They confirmed they’re able to it in opposition to Man Utd.
Jack Grealish or Iliman Ndiaye may, maybe, play behind the striker if Moyes is reluctant to name on Alcaraz, who has arguably not been given a good probability this time period, with Dwight McNeil or, ideally, Tyler Dibling given a shot on one of many flanks, however this appears unlikely in opposition to a Bournemouth group that may definitely provide lots in assault.
Bournemouth, although, aren’t in nice type — they’re winless in 4 Premier League video games and gave up a 2-0 result in lose 3-2 to Sunderland on Saturday. They are going to be with out Lewis Cook dinner and David Brooks, who’re suspended. Maybe one of the best type of defence is assault?
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Everton’s latest report on the Vitality Stadium is horrible, however getting again on track and avoiding defeat is essential forward of a troublesome run of fixtures that features the return of former boss Sean Dyche with Nottingham Forest the subsequent group to go to Hill Dickinson Stadium and clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal.
Gueye’s absence is a blow, however Everton should get used to it, and Moyes should react accordingly. And actually, ought to any Premier League midfield be so reliant on a 36-year-old to tie it collectively?
Saturday’s loss should now be rapidly put to at least one facet — Alcaraz, Iroegbunam and the remainder of Everton’s match midfielders should see these upcoming video games not as a gauntlet, however as an opportunity to stake their declare.