Carlos Alcaraz to start as Moyes axes five – Everton predicted XI v Bournemouth
David Moyes could grant Carlos Alcaraz his Everton debut as one of five changes to face Bournemouth in Sunday’s FA Cup tie.
Alcaraz’s arrival at Goodison Park was confirmed on Deadline Day as the Toffees’ only arrival in the winter window, and the fourth-round clash at Goodison Park gives Moyes an opportunity to unleash him.
Abdoulaye Doucoure is likely to drop out, giving Alcaraz a shot at his preferred number 10 role, with Jesper Lindstrom, Idrissa Gueye, Vitalii Mykolenko and Jake O’Brien also potentially rested by Moyes.
Nathan Patterson, Ashley Young, Tim Iroegbunam and Jack Harrison all came off the bench in the Blues’ 4-0 demolition of Leicester last time out, and may come into the XI as Moyes manages their minutes.
David Moyes to make five changes for Everton v Bournemouth
Moyes is set to be without six first-team options to face the Cherries, but with Alcaraz finally on board and his Toffees side winning three Premier League games in a row, he can still afford to rotate.
Breaking up the axis of Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite looks unlikely with Moyes just four games into his second spell at Goodison, but changes to the full-backs will be in order.
O’Brien has been a solid if unconventional option at right-back and Mykolenko is Everton’s only natural on the left, but a fit-again Patterson and Young will both value game-time against the Cherries.
Iroegbunam is another player making his return from injury, and alongside the impressive James Garner in the Blues’ double-pivot, will provide a solid anchor behind Alcaraz in Moyes’ front four.
The final change could come on the right side of that attacking quartet, with Jack Harrison – having seen a late-window move to Fulham averted – replacing Lindstrom to get more minutes in his legs.
Iliman Ndiaye and Beto tore Leicester apart in the Toffees’ 4-0 win last weekend and will surely start to have any chance of progressing, despite the latter currently being the only fit striker at Moyes’ disposal.
Having won the UEFA Conference League with West Ham barely two years ago, Moyes will be keen to go as far as he can in the FA Cup, but with Premier League survival paramount, expect numerous changes.
In other Everton news, Toffees fan Tony Bellew fumed at the “absolute disgrace” he saw in their win over Leicester last time out.
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