A graphic of Jack Grealish and Everton manager David Moyes standing side by side with Hill Dickinson Stadium in the background
Jack Grealish and Everton manager David MoyesManh Tung, Breaking Media

Everton predicted XI vs Tottenham: Grealish to start, defender dropped in three changes

Pete Hanson

Head of Editorial Standards & Recruitment AUTHORITY Former senior digital journalist at Stats Perform; network specialist in live data, editorial standards, and journalist recruitment. FOCUS Editorial standards, Statscore live data integration, newsroom operations, and recruitment. THE BRIEF Pete brings deep data expertise from his time at Stats Perform to oversee the network’s use of Statscore’s live data, setting the standard for how writers use it to produce original editorial content. He is also responsible for maintaining editorial standards and leading recruitment across the network.

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Everton are on their travels this weekend as they visit Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Toffees are still unbeaten this season, after twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Manchester United last time out.

Bryan Mbeumo's fine solo goal put the Red Devils ahead at Hill Dickinson Stadium, only for Tyrique George to lash in the equaliser.

Benjamin Sesko thought he had won it for Man United, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles hammered in a wonderful debut goal off the bench to secure a point.

Next up is the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face a Spurs side still looking for a first Premier League win, and first top-flight goal of the season.

Here, Goodison News is predicting David Moyes to make three changes to his starting XI when Everton face Tottenham in the 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday.

Merlin Rohl to be benched for Everton's trip to Tottenham

There is one near certainty about Everton's line-up every week, and that is the fact Jordan Pickford will start in goal bar any late injuries.

At left-back too, a lack of options means it is unlikely that anyone will displace Vitalii Mykolenko.

James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite is Moyes' go-to centre-back pairing when both are fit, and there is no reason to believe that duo will be split up.

However, it feels the right time now for Merlin Rohl, who has been deputising at right-back, to drop out of the XI.

Maitland-Niles arrived late in the window, but buoyed by a goalscoring debut the former Arsenal man will be itching to face Spurs this weekend and could come into the fold.

A graphic of Jack Grealish and Everton manager David Moyes standing side by side with Hill Dickinson Stadium in the background
Richarlison spotted on Hill Dickinson ad boards despite Everton failure to sign him from Tottenham

Jack Grealish in as David Moyes rejigs Everton attack

One quandary this weekend for Moyes is the availability of James Garner.

The England midfielder went off against the Red Devils, and missed a large chunk of pre-season through injury.

There is hope that Garner was just suffering from cramp, but Moyes may decide not to risk it and bring Hayden Hackney into the starting XI instead.

Harrison Armstrong is growing with each game, and could be afforded another opportunity here - especially with Christian Norgaard not expected back until after the international break.

Further forward, Jack Grealish made his Everton return off the bench last time out, and Moyes could be tempted to throw him in here on the left wing.

That could mean that George moves over the right flank, where he finished up against Man United to score his equaliser having started on the left.

Brennan Johnson could consequently drop to the bench against his former side, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall playing in the middle of a supporting three.

Thierno Barry appears a shoo-in to start given Everton have no other senior striker on the books at present.

Everton predicted XI vs Tottenham: Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Armstrong; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.

www.goodisonnews.com