David Moyes makes hideous mistake as Everton release starting lineup vs Man City
Everton are set to take on Manchester City on Saturday in what is no doubt a tough match for the Toffees.
While the Merseyside club did return to form before the international break as Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1, at the Etihad, at victory is not expected.
Man City go into the match on fine form, and with Jack Grealish ineligible to play for Everton, their chances of a result are slim.
However, defeats for the former Premier League champions earlier this campaign proved that they are beatable, especially if Moyes gets his tactics right.
Yet, it now seems that the Scotsman has all but ended the Toffees’ chance of getting a result.
Everton to start Carlos Alcaraz on right wing vs Man City
One of Everton’s best players in the comeback against Crystal Palace was Carlos Alcaraz.
Coming off the bench at half-time, the attacking midfielder made an instant impact, and showed Moyes why he should be starting.
Therefore, it came as no surprise that when Everton announced the lineup on 18 October that Alcaraz was in the team.
Your Everton XI to take on @ManCity ! ⚫️🟡👊 pic.twitter.com/aQhb3zlg0f
— Everton (@Everton) October 18, 2025
However, the issue with it is that it seems that the Argentine is going to be pushed out onto the right wing, to accommodate the incoming Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who is back after his suspension.
This is a baffling choice by Moyes, with Alcaraz clearly not going to have the impact he had against Palace in this position.
Realistically, the Scotsman should have made a decision on whether to play the Argentine or Dewsbury-Hall, and kept someone like Tyler Dibling to play on the wing.
Alcaraz has already proven that he is ineffective on the right, with the summer signing starting here in the defeat to Leeds United, making little impact in the attack.
Now, Moyes has seemingly repeated this mistake, which will surely cost Everton the result.
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Everton aiming to end poor record at the Etihad
Going into the match, Everton already has a horrendous record at the Etihad.
According to BBC Sport on 18 October, the Toffees are winless in their last 14 Premier League away days at the stadium.
Their last victory came in December 2010, when Moyes managed to oversee a 2-1 victory in his first spell in charge at Everton.
Now, the Scotsman will be aiming to repeat this success nearly 15 years later as they look to cause the upset of the weekend.
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