Everton

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United aim to continue their strong home form against an Everton side managed by former Red Devils boss David Moyes.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into Monday night's meeting at Old Trafford.

Home comforts

Manchester United return to Premier League football unbeaten in five matches and their home form has particularly impressed during the mini-revival under head coach Ruben Amorim.

The Red Devils have won all four Premier League home fixtures since a 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season, scoring 11 goals in total, and they next face an Everton side who have won just one of their past 32 Premier League visits to Old Trafford.

United have clearly improved in recent weeks, an upward curve underlined by their current tendency to get into good positions during matches.

They have held the lead for a total of 496 minutes and five seconds in the Premier League this season in just 11 games – already 140 minutes and 25 seconds longer than in 27 matches under Amorim in 2024-25.

Jekyll-and-Hyde performances

United do, however, remain vulnerable because of an apparent inability to sustain performances over 90 minutes.

They have failed to 'win' a second half in the league this season, conceding a league-high 14 goals after half-time in comparison to just four before the break.

United's failure to last the distance across 90 minutes cannot be blamed on a congested programme.

With no European football this season, United will have played only 12 games by 23 November (the day before this game) - their fewest during this period of any season since 1904.

And yet the substitutes' bench has repeatedly failed to make an impact.

A resurgent Casemiro has completed 90 minutes just once in this campaign and his withdrawal often has a negative impact, while subs have collectively provided one assist and no goals in the Premier League so far this season.

Everton's woeful Old Trafford record

The net result is that Everton may make the short trip from Merseyside with hope of springing an upset, despite a wretched record at Old Trafford.

The Toffees have won just once at United in the Premier League in the past 32 years, a 1-0 triumph in 2013 under Roberto Martinez - during which current manager David Moyes was in the home dugout.

Moyes has never won in 17 attempts as a visiting manager to Old Trafford in the Premier League (D4, L13) and righting that awful run may well depend on his strikers finally finding a way to fire this season.

Young centre-forward Thierno Barry received a standing ovation for his efforts after being taken off in the second half of Everton's 2-0 win over Fulham before the international break, but the 23-year-old remains goalless in 11 Premier League outings.

Beto, Everton's other option at number nine, has scored once in 11 games in the league this season.

Creative Everton struggling to score

Such struggles in front of goal are not down to a lack of creativity.

On-loan winger Jack Grealish remains joint top of the Premier League's assist charts with four, despite the fact they all came in his first three top-flight appearances for Everton.

The 30-year-old has since created 19 chances in seven matches but, crucially, none of them have been taken.

Fellow winger Iliman Ndiaye has been equally creative, with the duo leading the Premier League for expected assists from open play this season.

If Everton's strikers can find their feet in front of goal, a rare win at Old Trafford may await.

If the visitors waste further chances, it is perhaps more likely that United's revival under Amorim continues to gather pace.

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League will from next season move to a new system of Financial Fair Play (FFP) based on squad costs.

The clubs met in London on Friday to vote on three possible methods of replacing Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) got 14 votes in favour and six against, which is the minimum number that is required to exact a rule change.

Overall squad costs from next season will have to be limited to 85% of a club's revenue, although teams competing in Europe will have to adhere to Uefa's maximum of 70%.

Squad costs comprise player and manager wages, transfer fees and agents' fees.

Rules around sustainability, which set out a club's financial spending plans over the medium and long term, were passed unanimously.

Read more about the news and what it means here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has announced the start and end dates for the 2026-27 season.

The first round of fixtures will take place across the weekend of 22 August 2026 - a week later than previous seasons.

The later start allows rest time for players - 89 clear days from the end of this season, and 33 days from the 2026 World Cup final.

The Premier League said the delay was a "priority" for player welfare in an "increasingly congested global football calendar".

The final matches of the season will be played on Sunday, 30 May 2027, with all fixtures kicking off simultaneously as usual.

The season will end a week before the 2027 Champions League final, which will be on Saturday, 5 June.

There will be 33 weekend and five midweek fixtures - the same as the current season.

For the festive period, the Premier League have said no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours.

It has not been confirmed if there will be any fixtures on 24 December 2026.

However, as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the Premier League has said there will be more matches scheduled than this season, when there is only one.

Saffie Yates
BBC Sport Journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 20:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He confirmed Merlin Rohl had a minor operation on a hernia issue and will be out "for a few weeks" alongside Jarrad Branthwaite who remains sidelined following surgery on his hamstring.

• There is "absolutely no interest in letting James Garner go after rumours of interest from other Premier League clubs. Moyes said: "I don't know where the news comes from. There's been no phone calls into my my phone or anybody that I know of, regarding Garner. We will look to renew his contract when we are ready to do so."

• When asked if £60m is a realistic buying price for Everton amid interest in Scott McTominay he said: "If you're using the word £60m and those sort of numbers, I don't know if we're quite at that level yet... But it might happen. My gut feel would be to say, no, that wouldn't be where in the market we'd be in."

• On the January transfer window: "You do most of your buying in the summer. Not to say we wouldn't try and add to the squad in January. Everybody mainly knows that January's never a great window so we won't be shooting for the stars right away."

• He says forward Tyler Dibling is "hugely part of the future" amid speculation he could start against Manchester United. Moyes said: "So It's been quite difficult for him to get in front of those boys [Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish] at the moment, but it's someone we like a lot and I'm looking forward to getting him more minutes as we as we go on."

• On Seamus Coleman playing for Ireland during the international break: "For me, it was really good to see Seamus get the minutes and get the time. It's great he's getting the minutes. His training is terrific and his attitude is always impeccable. He's certainly in my thoughts, that's for sure."

• On Everton's rebuild: "We're trying to build ourselves back up. We've said many times about us trying to get on solid ground again. We've done that with the new owners, new stadium and staying up last year. So we have to try and make sure that we go steady. If anybody thought that we were going to completely switch everything around then they're completely off their head."

• Moyes continued: "I used to always look at the real managers, from eras before me, who I look up to now, Bobby Robson, Brian Clough, Don Revie, all those ones who'd been given long periods at their clubs. And if you look at the success, it tended to work better that way."

• On Tierno Barry's reception at Hill Dickinson: "He's got great support from the crowd and they've done amazing for him. He's working hard. He's someone who's trying to settle into the Premier League, got a very young family, and all those things play a part in in settling in any football club."

Listen to the full press conference here

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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Whether Everton want to sign Richarlison in January has been the subject of questions sent in via our 'Ask about Everton' form, so we put it to BBC Radio Merseyside reporter Giulia Bould for her perspective.

The story about a possible return to Everton for Richarlison does the rounds every transfer window - and it is easy to see why.

He remains a fan favourite. Many supporters were devasted when he was sold to Tottenham for profit and sustainability rules (PSR) reasons in the summer of 2022.

The forward scored 53 goals in all competitions with the Toffees during his four-year spell and it is not hard to see why he is still loved.

The player himself has also made it clear he adores Everton and often posts on his social media about his former side. So could a return actually happen?

Well, this claim was around at the end of last season and, when asked directly, David Moyes made it clear it was not something he was looking at: "Richarlison is a really good player and someone I've liked. But I can tell you there is zero truth in that from my side."

However, since then goals have been hard to come by. The manager's strikeforce of Beto and Thierno Barry have scored just one goal between them so far this campaign in the Premier League, so it might be time for Moyes to think again.

The Blues boss has already stated he will look at strengthening his squad in January but he also warned it is a notoriously difficult window to operate in, with prices often hiked up.

A loan could be a good fit for Everton if Spurs were open to it. The Brazil international has made just four league starts this term but there is no suggestion right now that they would be willing to let the 28-year-old go.

A Richarlison return would be a feel-good story, but right now there is no indication from either club it will happen. As ever though in football, things change very quickly so this could be a different story again come Christmas!

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Arsenal are exploring a shock move for Napoli and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 28, with Tottenham, Everton and Manchester United also interested. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

One of potentially the biggest moments in English football is coming on Friday, but precious few people understand how important it could be or even know about it.

The Premier League is considering 'anchoring' wages, which would cap the amount any club could spend on their squad at five times the smallest central Premier League broadcasting and prize money payout.

It is a complex argument. The league and some clubs are considering it because they want to ensure wage inflation does not continue to rise endangering their long-term financial security. From the other side - the players and their union, the PFA - this unnaturally limits the amount they can earn in what has until now been a free and open market.

Any changes to that position foisted upon the players without their prior consultation and agreement will not go down well. Remember, the players are the people that the paying public, the TV companies and the advertisers want to see, not a bunch of chairmen, executives and directors arguing over accounts, dividends and profit margins.

The game has increased the number of games played per season without consulting those who are physically doing it. No studies on how that will affect their health in the short and long term were considered, and so the PFA in England looks like it is finally ready to take a strong stand for its members.

Strike ballots are not unknown, I should know, as chairman of the PFA my name was on the bottom of every ballot paper when we last considered strike action over changes in working conditions. The modern owners may have forgotten, but we had 99% backing from our members.

Owners may think of footballers as ultra wealthy, mercenary, thickos who can easily be controlled - well they thought that last time and they lost.

It is time for serious and meaningful negotiation between equals and not a master and serf attitude from one side towards the other.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

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Toffee TV's Peter Mcpartland spoke to BBC Radio Merseyside about Everton skipper Seamus Coleman after he played in both World Cup qualifying games for Ireland during the international break: "Is he stepping up for Ireland because he isn't playing [for Everton]? Last season and the season before, he couldn't get fit at all and I wonder if the fact he isn't playing for Everton is what is helping him play for Ireland.

"David Moyes didn't [give him a new contract] to play him in 38 games - he signed him for his leadership and the transition into becoming a coach. I would like to see more of Seamus but not a lot more. At the moment, we have a good balance but maybe he could come off the bench a bit more.

"I think his experience is key and he drives standards in the dressing room. With the transition and everything else going on, that is key. It is important to keep some constants at your football club.

"Everton have always had a really good tradition of players 'handing over the baton' to the next player and it is who he passes the baton on to next which is important.

"It's what you don't see from Seamus Coleman that is key."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off earlier than usual this year, with up to 17 Premier League clubs set to be affected by players jetting off to host country Morocco.

The tournament runs from 21 December until 18 January.

There has been no official announcement about which date clubs will have to release their players by - and it could vary depending on agreements.

Players could miss up to six, or in some cases seven, Premier League matches - plus FA Cup and Carabao Cup games - if they reach the final.

The group stages end on 31 December, so quickly eliminated players may only miss half that amount.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds do not have any players due to play in the 2025 Afcon - with Sunderland and Wolves losing the most players.

• Aston Villa - 1

• Bournemouth - 1

• Brentford - 2

• Brighton - 1

• Burnley - 3

• Crystal Palace - 1 to 4

• Everton - 2 to 3

• Fulham - 3

• Liverpool - 1

• Manchester City - 2

• Manchester United - 3

• Newcastle United - 0 to 1

• Nottingham Forest - 1 to 4

• Sunderland - 7

• Tottenham - 1 to 2

• West Ham United - 2

• Wolves - 5

Read the full article here to know which players will feature at Afcon

Al-Ahli and England forward Ivan Toney is ready to accept a huge pay cut to return to the Premier League in January, with Everton and Tottenham keen on the 29-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Mike Richards
Fan writer

Which player is flying?: Iliman Ndiaye. When Jack Grealish arrived, there was a bit of a concern with Ndiaye being shifted out to the right-hand side. We need not have worried. With so much attention being on Grealish, it has given Ndiaye more space to exploit, which he has done beautifully.

Which player is floundering?: Dwight McNeil - a downfall that you feel was inevitable, but disappointing nonetheless. Quite simply, his position in the side has never been threatened in the past. He was relied upon for his set-piece delivery and the odd goal-of-the-season contender, but with the added quality in wide areas now, he is almost surplus to requirements.

Tactically I think we... can be quite predictable but effective. Small changes can make a big difference. David Moyes has recently put James Garner at right-back, which has made our formation that more flexible.

I want my manager to give me more... of Thierno Barry because he is the striker that will be at the club for the long term, so must be allowed to develop and progress on the pitch. We are starting to see some positive signs. Long may that continue.

Our fans seem obsessed with... running.

But they should be thinking about... walking. Our improvement and rebirth will be gradual and patience is needed. The club needs to be allowed to breathe.

My expectations for the season were... no thoughts of European football, simply a steady season of progression and a mid-table finish. They were the same before a ball was kicked as they are now.

Score for the season so far: 7/10.

One sentence on how you're feeling right now: I am satisfied with the start to the season and the relative calm around a football club that needs that, more than anything else.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Everton, Roma and West Ham are keen on signing Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, with the Netherlands international, 24, on the periphery at Old Trafford. (The I - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Over the past week, we have been asking you to send in the best Premier League XI your club could have put together.

We know football existed before 1992 but as a Leeds United fan asked our experts on the club to name theirs - using the Ask Me Anything form on the Whites - we stuck with their parameters.

Here's BBC Sport's Everton fan writer Mike's effort.

And you can ask us about the Toffees using the Everton Ask Me Anything form at the top of this page or here

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney is set to remain with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli despite interest in the 29-year-old Englishman from Tottenham, Everton and West Ham. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We have, roughly, run the numbers and here is the XI your submissions have produced.

It's the Everton defence of David Moyes' dreams with legendary full-backs Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines patrolling the flanks and ball-playing centre-halves Phil Jagielka and John Stones cleaning up in the middle.

In midfield, three spots were clear but Idrissa Gana Gueye just held off the creative challenge of Steven Pienaar for the final berth.

And then upfront, goals and more goals from Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku.

This side would probably have their eye on those Champions League spots.

Image source, Getty Images

Idrissa Gana Gueye believes his Everton and Senegal team-mate Iliman Ndiaye could become the next African Ballon d'Or winner.

"I challenge [Ndiaye] every game, every time we play," the 36-year-old told Everton's Official Matchday Programme. "I'm always speaking to him. He's a good boy, he listens a lot and, yeah, I'm like his... grandbrother!

"I always knew he would be successful here at Everton and, honestly, I don't think he's shown his best yet."

Ndiaye has scored four goals in the Premier League so far this season, which is nearly half of what he managed in his first Everton campaign in 2024-25.

The 25-year-old also registered his first assist at the club this term.

"I train with him every day so I see his quality every day and I can see what he is capable of," Gueye added. "He just needs to believe in himself, keep working hard and have high expectations of himself.

"I told him when he first arrived here that he can be the next African Ballon d'Or winner, because he has the quality, he has the technique, he has the skills and everything. He has a combination, I've never seen it before.

"He's a humble guy. A very, very good guy. He's not shy – he likes to play and joke with everyone. Nobody ever has a problem with him because he is humble and always keeps working hard. You see in those videos even from when he was very young how hard he works and it's because he always wants to be better."

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The statistics might say playing at home is an advantage - but what happens when it is not?

So far this season, 53% of Premier League matches have been won by the home team - the highest ever rate in a single campaign.

On the flip side, just 26% have been won by the away team - the lowest rate since 2010-11.

However, this has not been the case for all teams.

For some, being on the road has been more favourable. Tottenham are perhaps the most contrasting example having the joint-most points away from home with 13, but the second-worst in front of their own fans with just five points.

In the second part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "With crowds when playing away from home, there is a reduced scrutiny as a whole for away teams in that those crowds expect the home team to be the ones in charge. The players feel less judged. The pressure is on the other side.

"Another reason could come down to something in psychology I like to call simplification of the task. The team has a better collective identity when they are away.

"The human brain still goes back to the cavemen days. We have to, as a collective, fight for something. We have to protect our name. It goes back to that hunter-gatherer-against-danger mentality.

"When players are in front of a home crowd, there can be a bit of playing up to the individuality.

"I really do believe that collective identity has a strong enough influence because it amplifies the purpose and the belonging - let's belong together, let's be stronger together."

The focus might be on the players' performances being impacted by being home or away, but what about the managers?

Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest make up three of the bottom four for their home records so far this term, and all have changed their manager in recent weeks.

"100% managers and coaches can be affected, and sometimes even more so because there is so much riding on that one person," Cartwright said.

"The decision-making is the main thing. The crowd is chanting - 'take this player off, do this' - and it can lead to rushed decisions, particularly when the noise becomes relentless.

"Then there is the emotional regulation and touchline behaviour. A manager is pacing up and down, mirroring the stress state, and players see that. It can lead to mimicking and players feeling that stress too."

The impact on teams psychologically playing home or away is apparent, so how can they make the most from these different conditions?

"Our brains are wired to think negatively - it's a protection mechanism," Cartwright said.

"So when it comes to performing home and away, those players and managers who deal with it best are those who know how to use the noise and scrutiny and move on quickly from it - an ability to have a reset routine and regulate their emotions in these pressurised situations."

Read more from Marie in part one of her chat around the impact of playing at home here

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Home advantage gives you an advantage."

It is a quote - among many - attributed to the famous former England manager Sir Bobby Robson - a simple, yet fair reflection of a historical format of football.

For as long as teams have played in leagues, games taking place home and away has been the norm, with the idea that playing at home will be to the benefit of that team.

But what is the impact of playing at your own ground in front of your own fans?

In the first part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "Home impact can be viewed in two ways. Sometimes it does have a positive impact, and what happens is there is an elevated motivation.

"What that means is the crowd energy increases adrenaline and that creates a momentum in effort and intensity in the players. It is also a familiar environment for the players, so that means it reduces the cognitive load. They don't have to think as much about anything else other than their play because they know the pitch, they know the routines, they feel settled.

"However, there are a couple of potential negative impacts as well, with the potential intensification in pressure in the home fans, most times, expecting dominance from the home team. That can lead to mistakes from players feeling bigger to them.

"There can then be what we call a threat state. The players might perceive consequences as high, so they feel they might be facing more criticism when they are at home."

While those who watch football know there are more factors than just where the match is being to take into consideration, the statistics do suggest the influence is there.

Since the Premier League started, the home win percentage has outweighed the away win percentage in all bar one season - the Covid-hit 2020-21 campaign in which fans were largely not allowed admission saw a 38% home win rate compared to 40% away win rate.

So how a team handles this additional crowd pressure seems to be a key factor.

"In psychology, there is something called the challenge and threat theory," Cartwright said.

"In reality what that means is a 'challenge state' can push the player into thinking, 'I've got this, I've got the resources to cope with this'. That leads to better decision making and quicker reactions.

"The threat state, on the other hand, players might think the consequences outweigh their ability to cope. In any match context, that can mean they have a narrow sense of focus, the focus is not quite the same, so the play becomes slower because of overthinking."

"It can also be called 'red brain or blue brain' - with red brain being the one with fear-based dialogue and internal negative self-talk, while blue brain is the cool, calm and collected one that can handle its emotions.

"What sits in the middle of these is distraction. How a player responds to distraction and filters out the noise, like the crowd, can impact which of these mindsets they move into and ultimately how the team performs."

Read more from Marie in part two of her chat about why teams some teams play better away from home and how it impacts managers - that will be on this page early next week.

Here's another clutch of selections for your best Premier League XI.

See what you make of them.

Thomas: 4-2-3-1. Southall, Hibbert, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Cahill, Arteta, Ndiaye, Rooney, Pienaar, Ferguson. A team of grafters. Pickford, James, Eto'o, Gueye and Materazzi unlucky to miss out. And if Grealish signs, let's have him off the bench too!

Rob: 4-4-2. Southall, Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Baines, Kanchelskis, Speed, Barry, Grealish, Rooney, Lukaku. Sublime players in their heyday.

Ian: 4-3-3. Pickford, Coleman, Jagielka, Branthwaite, Baines, Cahill, Arteta, Speed, Kanchelskis, Lukaku, Limpar. Subs from Southall, Lescott, Carsley, Osman, Pienaar, Gravesen, Ndiaye, Rooney and Ferguson. A talented balanced team.

David: 4-4-2. Southall, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines, Grealish, Arteta, Carsley, Kanchelskis, Rooney, Lukaku. Would have Gascoigne and Barkley as subs. All above would be in prime.

Tom: 4-3-3. Pickford, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Coleman, Gueye, Arteta, Cahill, Rooney, Lukaku, Ndiaye. Attacking and packed with class.

Chris: 4-4-2: Southall, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines, Kanchelskis, Arteta, Gueye, Stuart, Rooney, Lukaku. The best goalie in club history, a strong backline, a combative midfield and the two best recent strikers. What's not to like?

George Mills
BBC Sport senior journalist

In a recent addition of the Football Extra newsletter, Roger asked BBC Sport: Players are frequently injured on international duty - such as Chris Wood for New Zealand last season, which may have ultimately cost Nottingham Forest a Champions League place. Are clubs compensated by the country or does insurance cover compensation?'

Since 2012, Fifa's Club Protection Programme has covered the salary of players injured on international duty - although there are some conditions.

Firstly, the player must be out of action for a period of at least 28 consecutive days and the injury must have been sustained during an "accident", which is defined in very boring and legally-specific detail in Fifa's guidelines, though it covers most of the examples you could think of.

The scheme pays the salary of an injured player up to the maximum amount of €7.5m (£6.6m) until they are declared fit to return for their clubs.

Transfermarkt lists Chris Wood as missing 18 days - three games - with the hip injury you mention from last March, suffered on international duty with New Zealand. As he returned inside 28 days, Forest would not have been eligible to claim compensation.

There are a couple of clubs who will currently be beneficiaries of this scheme though, including Newcastle United, whose £55m summer signing Yoane Wissa is yet to make an appearance since suffering a knee injury while playing for DR Congo.

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Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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With Everton sitting 13th in the Premier League table, four points off fourth place but five points off the relegation zone after 11 games, I'm sure if David Moyes was a teacher his report card would read: some good work but must do better.

It is four wins, four defeats and three draws.

The manager will be most frustrated with the draws, as two of those games saw Everton go in front, while in the goalless draw with Aston Villa his side were dominant throughout with an XG of 2.17.

However, there lies the story of the Toffees season so far - a lack of goals from their strikers.

Beto has found the back of the net just once in the Premier League so far, while Thierno Barry is still waiting to open his account. In fact, before the Fulham game, Moyes told me that they have to "take responsibility for the roles they play in the team" adding "we hope the goals are going to come".

However, "hope" might not be enough and you would imagine Moyes will be scouring the globe for someone who can get him the goal tally he needs to push for the European places in the January window.

Someone who is getting an 'A' for performances is Iliman Ndiaye, who is on four goals and one assist. He has been first-class for Everton again this season and is, understandably, attracting attention from club's across Europe.

But as The Friedkin Group have shown already with Jarrad Branthwaite, they won't be forced into selling their star man. With PSR no longer an issue, I don't see the Senegal winger leaving in the new year.

While Jack Grealish has been an instant hit with fans and there have been some impressive performances from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, there has to be mentions for two players who have improved considerably.

Michael Keane was perhaps an underwhelming signing in the summer when it was announced he had agreed to stay for a ninth season. The defender told me he hadn't extended his contract to sit on the bench and would work hard to find a starting place - and he has shown his worth in Branthwaite's absence. He has even scored twice this season.

James Garner has also become Moyes' most reliable player. The 24-year-old has played central midfield, left-back, right-back and even right-wing so far. His performances have been so impressive that Moyes now says he is someone who should be in the England squad due to his versatility.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Everton fan Patric Ridge speaks to BBC Radio Merseyside about defender Michael Keane: "If Jarrad Branthwaite were to come back into the team after the international break, David Moyes would have a big decision on his hands.

"You can tell Keane is a bit of a leader within the group. He's been around the club so long that he knows what's expected of him and he is delivering."

Ridge struggled to decide who he would choose between James Tarkowski and Keane to theoretically play alongside Branthwaite, if he were to come back for the next game.

He added: "Keane on form, but I think Tarkowski and Branthwaite are a really good partnership.

"I think Keane's up there as one of the best finishers at the club."

Get more Everton audio from BBC Radio Merseyside here

A fresh episode of The Wayne Rooney Show has landed and there's a raging debate on who should be on the plane for England to next summer's World Cup.

As part of the conversation, the panel dive into the form of Ollie Watkins and the credentials of Jack Grealish and Danny Welbeck.

"I'm surprised Watkins is not in this squad," says Rooney. "We have an opportunity where we don't need to see Harry Kane - give him a rest. This is where the manager should be saying - 'you are not with us, go and have a rest'."

Emile Heskey joins the podcast this week and there's also a nugget on Rooney setting a somewhat different example for a young Theo Walcott while on England duty.

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds