Everton predicted XI vs Lille: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall out as David Moyes rings changes

Everton play their final pre-season friendly against Lille on Saturday.

David Moyes' side have enjoyed a testing pre-season campaign this summer.

Everton have suffered defeats to Stoke City and Stuttgart, been held to a draw with Bolton and beaten Newcastle, Hamburg and Dundee.

The Toffees end their summer preparations with a Hill Dickinson Stadium clash against French Ligue 1 outfit Lille.

Davide Ancelotti's side finished third in Ligue 1 last season, and should provide a strong stern test ahead of Everton's Premier League campaign.

So, prior to Saturday's 3pm kick-off, Goodison News attempts to predict how Moyes will line his Everton side up for the final time in pre-season.

David Moyes makes two Everton defensive changes vs Lille

With Lille being the final test before the real thing starts in 2026-27, we expect Moyes to largely name a strong side once again.

He did so in the 3-1 win over Newcastle on Wednesday, in which he deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation, and that's how we think he'll start again on Saturday.

In goal, Jordan Pickford is back with Everton after his extended World Cup break, and is set to replace Mark Travers between the sticks.

At right-back, Nathan Patterson performed well against Newcastle and should keep his place, whilst Vitalii Mykolenko should also retain his left-back spot.

Michael Keane is expected to start in central defence, but we're tipping Jake O'Brien to take James Tarkowski's spot next to him for this one.

Tarkowski played the full 90 minutes against Newcastle, and could perhaps do with a rest whilst simultaneously offering O'Brien a chance to impress in his natural position.

So, with a couple of alterations made at the back, will Moyes make further changes in midfield?

Two new midfield signings set to start for Everton vs Lille

Hayden Hackney operated as the holding midfielder for 83 minutes against Newcastle, and again impressed after making his move from Middlesbrough.

However, after signing off the back of an injury-hit final few months of last season with Boro, Moyes won't want to overextend him in pre-season.

That doesn't need to be the case either, as Christian Norgaard offers Moyes a veteran option here, and should make his Toffees debut against Lille.

Ahead of him, Harrison Armstrong provided two assists against the Magpies, and deserves to keep his place this weekend.

Next to the 19-year-old should once again be Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who played just over an hour on Wednesday night.

On the right, Iliman Ndiaye found the net against the Toon and is likely to retain his spot

However, despite scoring against Newcastle, Tyrique George did play the full 90, and so this could be a prime chance for Brennan Johnson to make his Everton debut.

Despite primarily being an attacking midfielder, the Welshman is more than at home down the flanks, and is expected to carve out a key role on Merseyside.

That just leaves the striker position to fill, but will Moyes stick or twist on who it is leading the Everton line?

Moyes' centre-forward decision should be an easy one

When it comes to picking your starting striker, you can't ever really go wrong with selecting the player in form.

For Everton, that's currently Thierno Barry, with the 23-year-old netting three times in pre-season so far, including two from his last two.

His main rival Beto, on the other hand, has only scored once in this summer campaign against Dundee.

Thus, with the Premier League season around the corner, Barry is surely Moyes' best option to lead the line until he shows otherwise.