GOODISON NEWS 🔵 View: Bad news for DCL – how Everton could line up v Aston Villa after Moyes return

samedi 11 janvier 2025 | 17:05

David Moyes faces Aston Villa after his Everton return

Sat 11 January 2025 14:40, UK

David Moyes could make some changes to the Everton side for his first game since returning against Aston Villa.

The Toffees announced that the Scot had returned to L4 on Saturday (11 January), 12 years since he departed for Manchester United.

The 61-year-old comes in at Goodison with the remit of achieving Premier League survival, which could see him utilise some tactical changes to the starting XI.

The ex-West Ham boss’ first game comes at home against the Villans, which will give supporters a first look at Moyes’ approach back on Merseyside.

David Moyes returns to Everton to face Aston Villa

Sean Dyche faced the sack due to poor performances but the Englishman can never be accused of having a poor defence on Merseyside.

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As a result, it won’t come as a surprise if the returning manager in L4 decides to operate with the same backline that the former Burnley man trusted.

This could see a five of Jordan Pickford, Vitalii Mykolenko, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski and Ashley Young remain in the side on a regular basis.

Changes may come further forward, however.

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Moyes typically operated with two deep midfielders with one, usually Tomas Soucek, given more licence to get forward while the other helped cover the back four.

This could see Abdoulaye Doucoure drop deeper and play as a box-to-box midfielder alongside Orel Mangala, who will hope to keep Idrissa Gueye out of the side.

Ahead of them, Iliman Ndiaye could move into the number ten role to utilise his workrate in a dynamic position in the middle of the park.

Everton potential line-up under David Moyes

This could see two more traditional wingers used, with Dwight McNeil potentially operating on the left to whip crosses in while Jesper Lindstrom may start on the right to allow him to cut inside and get shots off.

That would mean Beto, whose strengths lie in his all-action style of play, replicating the Michail Antonio role at the London Stadium and spelling bad news for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

In other Everton news, David Moyes may bring a League One manager along with two backroom hires to Goodison.

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