Everton

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League match between Everton and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Simon: Everton lacked any real idea going forward, playing out wide and getting nowhere. Seemed to have no nerve in playing forward quickly and instead clung on to the ball, lost it and got caught out. Brentford seemed more willing to be more direct and take the gamble. Good to see Beto and Barry score.

Andy: Grealish was good and I'm pleased to see Beto and Barry score - but for some reason our defence was punch drunk and we lacked something in midfield. Pat on the back for the Forest win - kick up the backside for this.

Chris: What is there to say? We seem not to be able to stop conceding at our new stadium and appear to have a better away record. Well done to the two forwards for doing what they should have been doing for the past 20 games. Pity the defence were lacking. Kiss Europe goodbye for this season and concentrate on getting the 40 points needed to avoid relegation.

Andy: Reckless overconfidence, leaving defence wide open repeatedly, Everton got the result that they deserved as a consequence. We need someone to effectively boss and keep our defence organised. Weak on attack as ever, new forwards and Jarrad Branthwaite back from injury is desperately needed.

Brentford fans

Tim: Is the real Keith Andrews version of the Bees starting to emerge? Battling for every ball with willing runners all across the park. Damsgaard the Wizard controlling midfield, Thiago and Schade playing off each other superbly, Collins bossing the backline.

Rowan: An excellent performance from Thiago. Kelleher once again made some fantastic saves that helped maintain the Bees' dominance in this match. We switched off a couple of times, but these were the only glitches in what was a really good performance from the Bees. Andrews has got the Bees knocking on the door of a European place - and deservedly so!

David: Igor Thiago, take a bow - clearly man of the match. But, honestly, every single Brentford player deserves at least an 8/10. We were good against Bournemouth, but to back it up like that after so many recent games, and to do it away from home, was absolutely exceptional. Massive performance. Europe, here we come!

Rowan: An excellent performance from Thiago today. Kelleher, once again, made some fantastic saves that helped maintain the Bee's dominance in this match. We switched off a couple of times, but these were the only glitches in what was a really good performance from the Bee's today. Keith Andrews has got the Bees knocking on the door of a European place - and deservedly so!

Pundits Shay Given and Gary O'Neil join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

• Everton 2-4 Brentford

• Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

• Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

After back-to-back defeats by Chelsea and Arsenal followed by a goalless draw at Bunrley, it felt like Everton were back on the right track with a 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

But a disappointing 4-2 defeat by Brentford on Sunday has left David Moyes with plenty to ponder.

Moyes has made his European ambitions for Everton clear this season but it is Brentford who are dreaming of continental football next season after moving into seventh place with the win - two points clear of Everton who fell to 12th.

Lack of goals has been Everton's biggest concern this season but this time, they were undone by defensive lapses.

Heading into the fixture, only Arsenal (12), Manchester City (17) and Sunderland (18) had conceded fewer goals than Everton in the Premier League this season.

Michael Keane returned to the starting line-up after recovering from an injury but did not have the best of games while his defensive partner James Tarkowski was at fault for the Bees' opener though the Everton skipper went close twice with headers at the opposite end.

With a string of his key players missing because of international duty and injuries, Moyes will look to take positives from both Beto and Thierno Barry finding the back of the net and Jack Grealish getting his first assists since August before taking on bottom side Wolves next.

David Moyes spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Everton's defeat against Brentford: "I'm disappointed we didn't play better. We were just a bit short in some areas. We were disappointing defensively today and not as strong as we have been.

"We are short on a lot of cour creative players which showed at times. [But] we didn't do our defensive duties as well as we could have done.

"When your centre forwards score goals that's what we want. Today they didn't have the support and back-up. If we'd kept a clean sheet we could have won. But no complaints, Brentford deserved the victory."

Did you know?

Everton have now lost three different Premier League matches in which they conceded 3+ goals at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (10 games played), as many defeats conceding 3+ as they suffered in their last 28 league games at Goodison Park.

Listen to Moyes' chat with BBC Radio Merseyside here

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Jack Grealish returns to the starting line-up after recovering from a bout of illness in one of the two changes Everton manager David Moyes makes from the 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

Michael Keane also returns to the defence for the hosts as Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl drop to the bench.

Everton XI: Pickford, Keane, Tarkowski, McNeil, Barry, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Grealish, Dibling, Garner, Iroegbunam.

Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, Beto, Rohl, Aznou, Armstrong, Welch, Campbell.

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews makes three changes to his starting line-up from the goalless draw against Tottenham.

Aaron Hickey, Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard come in as Rico Henry, Jordan Henderson and Keane Lewis-Potter make way.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Hickey, Ajer, Collins, Schade, Jensen, Thiago, Damsgaard, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Kayode.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Henry, Van Den Berg, Pinnock, Nelson, Henderson, Lewis-Potter, Peart-Harris, Donovan

There are six games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds v Manchester United (12:30)

• Everton v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Fulham v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Tottenham v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester City v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the first five games here

And go here for Man City v Chelsea

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Everton have had a great season so far. Beating Forest was an important result for them, because the six teams immediately above them all dropped points.

They are now in eighth place and, with another home league game against Wolves to come after this one, their fans must be thinking this week is a real opportunity to climb higher.

It won't be easy against Brentford, however. Keith Andrews' side took seven points out of a possible nine over Christmas, and are also in the top half of the table.

I actually think the Bees are a better team when Jordan Henderson isn't playing - Andrews left him out of their wins over Bournemouth and Wolves and they seem to have a bit more energy without him in the team.

Whether Henderson plays or not, I just can't see a lot of goals here - one will probably be enough to win it.

Brentford are very effective on the counter-attack and are certainly capable of getting a result, but I am going to back Everton to edge it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Everton aim for back-to-back Premier League wins, against a Brentford side that has struggled away from home this season.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of Sunday's meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium (15:00 GMT).

Depleted Everton still winning

Manager David Moyes regarded Everton's win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night as one of the best since his return to the club last January because of the quality of personnel who were unavailable for selection.

The Toffees were missing Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane, while Jack Grealish was only fit enough to start on the bench.

Merlin Rohl, who joined from Freiburg last summer, made his first Premier League start and right-back Nathan Patterson his first start of the season at the City Ground.

Seven of the nine substitutes listed in midweek had never played Premier League football before – a situation which means that Everton have recalled teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong from an impressive loan spell at Preston North End.

Keane is the only senior player who may return from injury in time to face Brentford.

Everton chief executive Angus Kinnear, however, has indicated that the club will only do business in January if the right players are available at a reasonable cost, with resources more likely to be focused on continuing the club's rebuild in the summer.

Toffees' lack of goals may not be solved in January

Everton may well have to rely on their existing squad to win matches in the second half of 2025-26 despite an ongoing battle to score goals.

The 2-0 win at Forest ended a run of three matches without a Premier League goal for the Toffees, while centre-forward Thierno Barry scored just a second goal of the campaign at the City Ground.

Barry failed to score with his first 15 shots for Everton but now has two goals from his past three attempts, an upturn in efficiency that will please Moyes given his side continue to struggle at turning opportunity into meaningful attempts.

The Toffees are averaging just 3.1 shots on target per game this season, their lowest on record since Opta began recording such data in 1997-98.

It means that Everton have been reliant on a resolute rearguard to safeguard points once ahead – only Arsenal have kept more clean sheets - while the Toffees' past five league victories have come while shutting out their opponents, meaning the first goal on Saturday could be crucial against a Brentford team struggling away from home.

Brentford's awayday blues

The Bees begin this contest just one place behind Everton in the Premier League table but while the Toffees' tally of 28 points has been split exactly into 14 apiece at home and on the road, Brentford have been heavily reliant on results at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Only bottom side Wolves have lost more Premier League away games than Brentford this season. The Bees' tally of seven away defeats is just one fewer than they sustained in the entirety of last season.

Keith Andrews' side did win their most recent away fixture, triumphing at Wolves on 20 December, but they have found visits to the blue half of Merseyside more difficult, failing to score in their past three fixtures at Everton (D1, L2).

Everton's home form, however, has not been as strong as perhaps Moyes would like, alternating between victory and defeat in their past six Premier League games at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Toffees lost 1-0 against Arsenal last time out, but they have not been defeated in successive home matches in a year – although Moyes may well wish more of his injured players were back in time for Sunday's match if that record is not to come under threat.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Michael Keane "has a chance" of returning, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz remain unavailable.

• Moyes said Jack Grealish "had a really bad illness," but "looks much better on the face" now and has been training this week.

• On midfielder Harrison Armstrong being recalled from his loan at Preston North End: "If things allow me, then I will certainly send him back because I think it's really good for his education. But we need him at the moment. If he does well then we will keep hold of him."

• Moyes said "the squad is really short, and we have a lot of injuries" so recalling Armstong is one way they are trying to "supplement the squad to get through this busy period".

• He said he has the full support "of the club and board" in this transfer window but "finding the right players is the hard bit".

• On Thierno Barry telling the media he has been watching videos of Romelu Lukaku: "It's a great idea if he keeps scoring! If he does anything like Lukaku did in this country, or for Everton, then we will be highly delighted. Sometimes players need a bit of inspiration."

• He said things are positive around the team at the moment and fans are "starting to get that feeling back at the club" so "it's about building on it" now to achieve a good finish.

• On James Garner taking on more of a leadership role: "We've asked him to and he's certainly taken on a more senior role. We need it because we don't have Seamus Coleman around or Ashley Young like last year."

Listen to live commentary of Everton v Brentford on BBC Sports Extra 2 with coverage starting at 14:55 GMT on Sunday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Everton have recalled midfielder Harrison Armstrong from his loan spell at Preston North End.

The 18-year-old made 13 starts in the Championship after joining Paul Heckingbottom's side on transfer deadline day in the summer.

He now links back up with David Moyes' squad and will be available for Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The midfielder made his Premier League debut earlier in the season against Brighton.

Armstrong joined Everton's academy at the age of five and made his senior debut for the club against Tottenham in August 2024.

He has continued his development through regular first-team football away from the Toffees, including a loan spell with Derby County during the 2024-25 season.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

A normal Premier League season may run from August to May, but what happens if we stop the table now? What if it was only what happened in 2025 that counted?

With the calendar flicking over to 2026, this is the ideal time to check back on which teams have had an enjoyable 12 months and see who had a year to forget.

The top five is an accurate reflection of this season's top five (although it should be noted not all teams have played the same number of games).

Arsenal have led the way this campaign and, after coming up short last season, they will be striving to go one better to finally secure an elusive first Premier League trophy since 2004.

If looking just at the past 12 months, the title would be theirs, despite a number of draws early in 2025.

Having gone through their worst run of form under Pep Guardiola late in 2024 and early into 2025, alongside their initial poor start to this season, it may be surprising to find Manchester City so close at the top.

But a feature of this City side under Guardiola is their ability to recover from less than impressive starts and go on winning streaks - they are currently on a run of six wins in the league.

Aston Villa fans can look also back fondly on 2025, having experienced the return of Champions League football, secured more European football again this term and found themselves in a battle for the Premier League trophy.

They may have had a slow start this season but their general consistency in 2025 and a club record-equalling run of 11 straight wins in the final weeks catapults them into the top three.

Having won the title with ease last season, Liverpool fans can still revel in that achievement. But a drop-off at the end of 2024-25 and a poor run this time around leaves them fourth for the year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea made progress in 2025 under Enzo Maresca, with Champions League football and two bits of silverware, but a lack of consistency in a young team prevents them ascending higher than fifth.

When looking at the next five, there are perhaps some surprises.

With their FA Cup win, 2025 will go down in Crystal Palace's history, and their Premier League form has not been too shabby either as they compete with the teams that have occupied Champions League spots in recent seasons.

No Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo or Yoane Wissa? No problem for Brentford. They may have had a summer of upheaval but that has not stopped the Bees buzzing as they continue to perform above expectations.

After a few years of struggles on and off the pitch, 2025 seems to be the one Everton fans can finally start to look up rather than down with the new stadium and return of David Moyes bringing much-needed stability.

Newcastle may have had a few ups and downs, but they have come good when needed and hold their own in the top six, while Brighton continue to establish themselves firmly in the top 10.

Find out how the bottom half of the table shapes up on the post below

Now, what about those who may have had a less enjoyable 2025?

Manchester United continue to try to find their feet under Ruben Amorim. And while there have been glimmers of progress in recent weeks, a torrid first half of the year has left them with much room for improvement (and a draw with Wolves to end 2025 only added to the questions).

Bournemouth and Fulham both seem to have found consistency in their ability to be inconsistent.

There have been bursts of form from both, but also bouts of disappointment they might rather forget.

As for Nottingham Forest, 2025 may have been the year they returned to Europe for the first time in nearly three decades, but when it came to results in the league, particularly this season, it has been more of one to forget.

Under their third head coach of the season, they will hope 2026 does not bring the return of Championship football.

Like Forest, Tottenham's 12 months has been memorable for both the good and the bad.

A first trophy in 17 years was secured in the Europa League, but it has been far from impressive in the Premier League, managing just 11 wins from 37 matches and some pressure already building on boss Thomas Frank.

One of the most notable things about the bottom end of the calendar year table is the presence of all three promoted teams, despite two of the three having played a game less than the relegated clubs of last season.

With Leeds nine points better off and Sunderland 17, it highlights the disparity in how well this year's promoted sides have done in comparison to the previous three.

For the Black Cats, it has been a dream return to the top flight, including a recent win over Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle, and in this season's table they find themselves just two points off fifth.

After overcoming a difficult patch, Leeds are also enjoying their return to the top table, slowly pulling themselves away from the danger spots.

It has been more of a struggle for Scott Parker's Burnley, but they will not lose hope with still half a campaign to go.

After recent successes with European football, domestically things have become a harder watch for West Ham supporters as they struggle to find the balance between good football and much-needed results

Then there is Wolves - and fans may want to look away.

Despite playing 20 Premier League games more, the West Midlands side accumulated only one point more than Sunderland across the year.

A win this term still eludes them and safety in 2026 appears a distant dream.

Check out how the top half of the table looked in the post above

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Best memory and why?

The obvious choice for many will be James Tarkowski's stoppage time equaliser in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, but mine has to be that first Premier League game at our new home. The siren, Z Cars and the emergence of the players will forever give me goosebumps. A moment more than 20 years in the making that will live long in the memory.

Worst moment and why?

2025 was definitely more enjoyable than the previous few years, so a worst moment is difficult to pick. The day the doors closed at Goodison Park will probably fit into this category, but more so from an emotional perspective. Taking time to process the magnitude of the day and the moment the full-time whistle blew, was unforgettable. We were all a part of history that day. I truly believe it signified the rebirth of the club.

If I could drink a New Year's brew with one member of our squad/management it would be...

Leighton Baines

and I'd ask him...

to sign all my Baines-themed merchandise, while featuring on the podcast of course.

The thing that's infuriated me in 2025 is...

The expectation that has materialised about Everton being good enough to qualify for Europe this season. Sometimes realism is not appreciated, but this squad is very much at the beginning of a major rebuild. The impact of injuries, suspensions and Afcon has laid bare the fragility of the squad. There will be progress, but there have to be tempered expectations this season.

My gut tells me 2026 will bring...

More excitement and progression, especially as we head into the 2026-27 season. The summer transfer window will really see Everton start to make their move in the market. I cannot wait to see what the future will bring.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

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Everton defender James Tarkowski says the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night was further demonstration of how "resilient" they are in defence.

Forest had nearly 70% of possession at the City Ground and twice as many shots on target as the Blues, but Moyes' side kept a clean sheet and picked up three valuable points.

"We knew that they were going to have more of the ball to be honest", Tarkowski told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"With the team we had and the way that we set out, we were never going to set out to openly press all over the pitch. We were happy to let them have the ball in certain spaces.

"Obviously I don't want us to defend on the edge of our box all game but I thought we were pretty resilient for most of it."

The Blues have now climbed to eighth in the Premier League table.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy believes James Garner proved what a "clever footballer" he is after starring in Everton's 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Garner, 24, scored the opening goal and then provided the assist for Thierno Barry to double their lead.

"Arguably his best performance of the season," Murphy said. "He's filled in various positions but is playing in midfield at the moment.

"I like the fact that he can play quickly and he knows when he has time on the ball. He travels with the ball nicely, getting Everton up the pitch at times to release that pressure. He's a clever footballer."

Watch on BBC iPlayer

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League between Nottingham Forest and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Gary: We lacked quality going forward and looked flat-footed at the back. Morgan Gibbs-White is way off last season's form and without Chris Wood's goals, he doesn't look a threat. We should just about stay up as the three below us are poor.

Sean: It's baffling that we attempted 52 crosses in this match only to see them easily dealt with by the Everton defenders, and we didn't decide to change our approach. It was a pedestrian approach to chasing the game. We needed a plan B and there was very little as an alternative. The second half we had so many corners but still couldn't beat the first man.

Paul: The recruitment at Forest has to be questioned. Injuries have not been kind but we spent close to £200m in the summer with the league and Europe in mind but arguably, we actually have a worse squad than last year. Hard to see where goals will come from and having a goalscorer is imperative in a relegation scrap.

Ian: Outcoached, and in James Garner, Everton had the best player on the pitch.

Everton fans

Carlos: What a great performance from the whole team. Garner has been going through the motions the last couple of years but has stepped up big time this season and has consistently shown talent, grit and leadership. Tim Iroegbunam played really well too and the players coming in showed a lot of promise.

Ian: We were all worried about the weakened team, all apart from David Moyes, who showed what a great manager he is for us. Many give him stick for being cautious but our shape keeps us in games when we shouldn't.

Francis: This is Everton's B team and yet... they are not! Wonderfully organised in defence and Garner was a class act. Thierno Barry is building his self-confidence. Dribbling great potential and last but not least, Iroegbunam may establish himself to challenge Idrissa Gueye!

John: Classic away performance. Great defending and a couple of clinical finishes. James Garner absolutely brilliant as man of the match.

Everton manager David Moyes speaking to BBC Sport: "Not only this season but I think one of the better results we've had since I've come into the job because of how depleted we are.

"We didn't have enough senior players on the bench to make too many changes. I thought Nottingham Forest played well, but we defended well and took our moments when we got them.

"We didn't play particularly well against Burnley, but today we did. I always saw tonight being a really difficult game. Forest played really well against Manchester City at the weekend, and they were unlucky not to take some points."

On the performance of James Garner: "He was fantastic tonight, he really was. Coming back to his old club, I thought he played really well - but he has for a while. He's playing so well for us, and he's taken on a bit more responsibility, a bit more of the leadership, so he's really matured."

On striker Thierno Barry's goal: "You should see my relief when he scored as well! He's getting better, doing a lot of things we like. We hope he can keep getting the goals."

And on looking up the table: "We'd like to get ourselves in there [near the European places], maybe later in the season. We need to try and keep pushing on but we need to get some key players back because that will be too difficult to do without them."

• Listen to Moyes on BBC Sounds

Midfielder James Garner speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew it was going to be tough here, we have a lot of injuries, a couple of the lads have gone to Afcon, so we were a bit short.

"To keep a clean sheet [was the key] and we defended very well as a team. We've not been great this season at keeping the ball out of our net. We were on the back foot for the majority of the game so the message was as soon as we get the ball back let's be clean. We were very clinical.

"Some of the lads were making their first starts of the season, players are coming back from injury, that's massively important now for the second half of the season.

"It was three games without a goal, so to get two away from home is massive and we can hopefully take that into our home game at the weekend and score a few more."

Did you know?

• David Moyes has now won nine of his 19 Premier League away matches in charge of Everton since returning to the club, which is already as many away victories as Everton's two most recent permanent managers combined (9 in 57 matches - Sean Dyche 7 wins, Frank Lampard 2 wins).

• James Garner has now been involved in five goals in the Premier League this season (2 goals, 3 assists), his most in a single campaign in the competition, surpassing his three in 2023-24, while 60% of his goal involvements this season have come against teams he used to play for, providing an assist against Manchester United in November and netting the opener tonight against Forest, before setting up Thierno Barry for the second goal.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

While Nottingham Forest completed 245 passes in the final third, Everton managed just 54.

The hosts attempted 52 crosses but were repelled by the imperious James Tarkowski and Jake O'Brien, who protected Jordan Pickford until a couple of nervy moments in injury time.

Through-balls attempted and completed by Everton equalled two, while it was zero for Forest.

The only stat which counted, though, was the scoreline and James Garner and Theirno Barry's goals lifted the Toffees within touching distance of the top four.

The Champions League may seem fanciful, but why should a challenge for the Europa League or Conference League be beyond Everton?

One or two teams will find the consistency in the second half of the season to pull away in a congested table - Everton are just three points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in 13th place - and results like this will only aid the Toffees' chances.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

What did you make of Everton's display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Sean Dyche makes made one change to the Nottingham Forest side which lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Saturday.

Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Nicolo Savona, who drops to the bench.

Nottingham Forest XI: John Victor, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Zinchenko, Anderson, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Jesus

Subs: Sels; Morato, Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, McAtee, Bakwa, Savona, Abbott.

David Moyes makes three changes for Everton's trip to the City Ground

Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl make their first starts of the season while Thierno Barry returns to the starting line-up.

Michael Keane and Charly Alcaraz are missing from the squad, while Beto is among the substitutes along with Jack Grealish, who has recovered from a virus to make the bench after missing the weekend's 0-0 draw at Burnley.

Everton XI: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dibling, Rohl, McNeil, Barry

Subs: Travers, King, Welch, Grealish, Campbell, Graham, Beto, Aznou, Bates