Branthwaite nursed, Grealish out again: Everton predicted lineup vs Coventry

David Moyes has no reason to tinker. Two wins over Newcastle in four days have put Everton seventh, and a third straight win on Friday night would lift them into the top five.

Frank Lampard brings Coventry City to Hill Dickinson Stadium for an 8pm kick-off, his first time in the away dugout against Everton since leaving the club in January 2023. It’s also Everton’s annual Remembrance fixture.

The selection questions are small ones. Jarrad Branthwaite is being nursed along after cramp at St James’ Park, and Jack Grealish is unavailable again. Our full look at the fixture is in the Everton vs Coventry preview.

Everton predicted lineup vs Coventry

Everton predicted lineup vs Coventry (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Garner; Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry

We expect the same XI that won 1-0 at Newcastle on Monday. Moyes said on Thursday he felt his side needed something different on Tyneside and that he wants Everton to be unpredictable, but a winning team at home to a promoted side is hard to argue with.

Defence

Jordan Pickford: no question

Booed all night at St James’ Park, Pickford had little to do until five minutes from time, when he blocked Yoane Wissa’s low effort. He starts.

Jake O’Brien: keeps the right-back spot

O’Brien played right-back on Tyneside and Everton kept a clean sheet. Merlin Rohl could drop back there for a more attacking option at home, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles is another choice, but we don’t see Moyes breaking up a back four that has just shut Newcastle out.

James Tarkowski: the captain in form

The skipper has been in a rich vein of form all season and is the first name on the team sheet at centre-back.

Jarrad Branthwaite: fit, if the cramp has gone

Branthwaite missed the Arsenal game and the first Newcastle match on concussion protocol, started on Monday, and came off late on with cramp. Moyes said on Thursday: “Yeah, we’re just nursing [Branthwaite] along a wee bit, just checking to see he’s okay, so we need to see how he is, yes.” If he isn’t right, Michael Keane, who replaced him at Newcastle, steps in.

Vitalii Mykolenko: very steady

That was Moyes’ own verdict on the Ukrainian on Thursday, and it’s hard to improve on. He keeps the left-back shirt.

Midfield

Harrison Armstrong: an ever-present

Armstrong has started every Premier League game this season, and Moyes went back to his tried and tested trio of Armstrong, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at Newcastle.

James Garner: the Player of the Year stays

The club’s reigning Player of the Year partners Armstrong. Hayden Hackney, who scored his first Everton goal in the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle, Christian Norgaard and Charly Alcaraz are all waiting, but none of them should start here.

Merlin Rohl: right side again

Rohl played on the right at Newcastle and had a good chance created for him by Thierno Barry. Brennan Johnson and Tyler Dibling are pushing, but we think Rohl keeps his place.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: knocking on England’s door

Thomas Tuchel names his squad on Friday, hours before kick-off, and Tarkowski has already backed Dewsbury-Hall for a call-up. Moyes said: “Kiernan’s form is getting back to his levels of last year. Recently, in the past couple of games, he’s been very good. So, I hope he does.”

Tyrique George: earned it

The 20-year-old has made the left side his own while Grealish has been out, and it was his shot that Lukas Hornicek spilled for Barry’s winner on Monday.

Attack

Thierno Barry: eight goals and counting

Barry has eight goals in 12 appearances this season. Moyes said on Thursday that plenty of people work with him, Leighton Baines among them, and that the Frenchman is maturing and has a lot more room to develop.

Is Jack Grealish back for Coventry?

No. Grealish will miss a fourth game in a row. Moyes said: “Jack is not available. I wouldn’t give you the plan, but we will be working with Jack again soon.” Asked whether it could be sorted over the international break, he would only say: “We’ll see.”

Coventry have problems of their own. Lampard is without Aurele Amenda and Haji Wright, Josh Eccles and Luke Woolfenden are expected to stay out, and Bobby Thomas and Frank Onyeka face late fitness tests. Newcastle found Everton tough to break down twice in four days, and Jaissle admitted his side ignored his plan; Lampard will want a better answer.

Everton predicted lineup vs Coventry (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Armstrong, Garner; Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry