David Moyes has a number of injury concerns to contend with as Everton prepare to face Liverpool in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday night
An emotional farewell awaits at Goodison Park on Wednesday as Everton play their final Merseyside derby at the historic ground against Liverpool – but the Toffees go into the crunch clash without seven first-team stars.
David Moyes, however, is laser-focused on clinching vital Premier League points to steer clear of the drop zone. Despite a setback in his first home game since his return, losing to Aston Villa, Moyes has led the Toffees to three straight league victories.
A win against their city rivals would not only give Everton fans a lasting memory at Goodison but also soothe the sting of their recent FA Cup loss to Bournemouth. Everton’s left-back Vitalii Mykolenko sat out the Bournemouth match with a calf concern, yet Moyes has confirmed the Ukrainian is back in training and could be in contention for the derby.
The team’s FA Cup disappointment did see a bright spot in Charly Alcaraz’s second-half performance. The new arrival from the transfer window showed promise and nearly scored, quickly winning over supporters.
Moyes, when quizzed about Alcaraz’s chances of starting, said: “He’s done enough by his performance to start the game. Whether I do, is another thing. I think sometimes when you bring someone in, you don’t know how long it’ll take for someone to settle”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
He added: “I have to say, he settled very well in the game. He’s got Premier League experience, so he’s not completely new to this. The decision will be made tomorrow on whether we start him or not.”
Everton are set to miss the services of Orel Mangala, the Lyon loanee who is grappling with a severe injury. However, they will be buoyed by James Garner’s return after his exemplary display in their 4-0 thrashing of Leicester in the last league match.
David Moyes also shared updates on Tim Iroegbunam’s recovery: “We’re short with our squad at the moment. We’ve got Tim on the way back. He’s beginning to get himself back in a position where he’s ready to play. Jimmy (Garner)’s done a really good job in the two games he’s played.”
