Pre Match Pre Match - Everton (H) - Sat 12:30

[Brizzle]

Tasty fixture up next, Everton in ok form at the start of the season and they seem to be more progressive than recent seasons. Hopefully a banging atmosphere and a quick start like last night can make this a good game for us.

I'd start same XI as it looked well balanced. Wouldn't say no to Kerkez but that's mostly cos I am having to act as his biggest stan at present. Anyone else needing a rest can be dropped for the Carabao next week. Would be interesting to see if Slot thinks its worth giving Isak first 45.

Ali

Frimpong
Konate
Virgil
Robbo

Gravy
Szobo
Wirtz

Salah
Isak
Gakpo

Can see arguments for Macca, but for me he is still not looking sharp and I would prefer him to find that in the league cup next week and have Szobo on the pitch who is in top form. Nice problem to have though.

 

[MomoWASright]

Bradley and Tekkers will start. Isak will start against Southampton.

 

[Modo]

Macca starts imo.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Hugo starts 100%.

Wirtz should be dropped for this for Macca

 

[Brizzle]

Hugo starts 100%.

Wirtz should be dropped for this for Macca

I disagree - wirtz has looked more comfortable each game. His link up with Szobo in the middle looked great, and it was nice to see how eager he was to tee up Isak.

We need to be a threat from the off in this one and Wirtz is key to that IMO.

 

[binomial]

Alisson
Frimpong Konate Virg Kerkez
Szobo Grav Mac
Salah Hugo Wirtz

Don't think Cody could be too disappointed if he found himself making way here, he hasn't looked great since the first game.

Whether to stick or twist at LB is a flip of a coin really, but I'd trust Milo to come back in after his ticking off last time out.

Another tightknit game, Everton having a decent spell for the first time in about 10 years. 2-1 win for the red men.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Now they're all fit, I think we could see rotating full backs with one new, one existing. So Bradley and Kerkez for this one. Then Ekitike instead of Isak, otherwise the team from last night I think.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I disagree - wirtz has looked more comfortable each game. His link up with Szobo in the middle looked great, and it was nice to see how eager he was to tee up Isak.

We need to be a threat from the off in this one and Wirtz is key to that IMO.

He’ll get rushed and kicked all over the place and it could set him back months.

Macca is up for the battle.

 

[Dreambeliever]

No way Isak starts. Slot said as much.

 

[zoboroboz]

Whose turn is it to score our late post-80th minute winner this time? I'm thinking Jones (on as a sub, breaks the defensive line to latch onto a Szobo through pass and chip the ball home over Pickford's tiny outstretched arms) or Gakpo (Salah hangs a cross to the far post and Gakpo ghosts in to head home).

 

[binomial]

Whose turn is it to score our late post-80th minute winner this time? I'm thinking Jones (on as a sub) or Gakpo (Salah hangs a cross to the far post and Gakpo ghosts in to head home).

 

[Buddha]

Gakpo’s been really poor early season but this at home and he’ll kickstart a turnaround in form with a goal or two.

 

[Brizzle]

He’ll get rushed and kicked all over the place and it could set him back months.

Macca is up for the battle.

You think he's never been kicked at before? Could be the making of him.

 

[Mamma Mia]

We keep winning with Flo in the starting line up, and he gets a bit better every match as he settles in. Macca isn't 100% fit and is struggling a bit with form.

Gravy, Dom, Flo is our best midfield at the moment in my opinion, with the luxury of having Macca on the bench ready to come on for Flo at any point.

 

[jan]

Macca still didn't look fit to me yesterday so same team but Hugo for Isak for me. You could make an argument for Bradley over Frimpong but he'll be up against the rejuvenated Grealish and I can see the Tayto getting an early yellow

 

[localny]

This of course is a super physical affair and Moyes knows how to win these games. Wirtz would benefit from the experience, but he is going to be way out of his physical depth in this one. Macca too with his lack of fitness.

 

[Brizzle]

I would argue that Macca at current sharpness is less up for a fight (that could set his niggles back) than Flo who looks incredibly fit and could run Everton ragged

 

[FreshRed]

I would start Macca over Szobo, as Macca does well at providing calm during chaos and I expect Everton to be flying about trying to pressure. Szobo is a good presser, but not very press-resistant himself.

I also expect Everton to have a bit of a go and think Wirtz leading the counter if much more effective that Szobo. Even if Wirtz has been a little sloppy with his passes, he is getting better. Szobo is sloppy even more often (although better so far this year).

 

[mom]

Ali
Brad
Ibou
Vvd
Robbo
Dom
Gravy
Wirtz
Salah
Ekitike
Gakpo


Mac and Isak ans Rio to come on second half

 

[Dreambeliever]

You think he's never been kicked at before? Could be the making of him.

I think hes shithoused out of getting kicked a few times already and Everton will target him.
I think of other players at other clubs like Reyes at Arsenal who never recovered from a good kicking in a big game and I wouldn’t risk it. This will be hands down the fastest pace with highest intensity he’ll have experienced so far and so far he hasn’t coped at all.

 

[Dreambeliever]

This of course is a super physical affair and Moyes knows how to win these games. Wirtz would benefit from the experience, but he is going to be way out of his physical depth in this one. Macca too with his lack of fitness.

Huh? Moyes has literally zero experience ever winning a derby…..

 

[localny]

Yeah a draw is a win for him unfortunately,…

 

[Whaddapie]

I hate this game like no other, twice a season...

All they want to do is 1) injure us, and 2) not let us win. They're fucking animals in football boots, every time. Ironically, Moyes has turned them into a half decent side, and maybe they'll not be quite as disgusting as usual, as a result. I also think the quality of our bench could well prove telling, after the two starting line-ups tire themselves out.

I like our chances to win this, after a tense. tight affair. 2-0, with a late, late 2nd to ease a lot of frayed nerves.

 

[Buddha]

We’re at home and I saw glimpses of a more fluid attack at times yesterday…and Isak, a truly elite number 9 will be a little sharper.

For once I feel confident about a Derby. Their goodish form might see them a little more open than usual and we’re scoring every game without clicking yet…

4-1

 

[Modo]

Referee
Darren England