Moyes must finally drop Harrison & unleash Everton’s “magic” talent
Everton Aim to Bounce Back Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Everton travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday looking to recover from their recent defeat to Manchester City on Merseyside.
David Moyes has overseen a remarkable turnaround since returning in January.
The loss to the reigning champions marked only their second in 13 Premier League games under his watch, following a narrow defeat to Aston Villa in his first match back. The only other setback came in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The Toffees have become a more cohesive, confident unit under Moyes. While there’s still progress to be made, they’ve climbed to 13th in the table, and with a strong finish, could potentially leapfrog the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham. Relegation, for now, seems like a distant worry.
Chelsea, though inconsistent themselves, still pose a real threat. Here’s a look at Everton’s team news ahead of this clash in west London.
Injury Update
Everton will likely be without James Tarkowski for the first time since he joined from Burnley in 2022, after the defender picked up a hamstring injury against City.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains unavailable, while Armando Broja is ineligible to play against his parent club. This paves the way for Beto to return to the starting XI and attempt to end a seven-match goal drought.
Elsewhere, an easing injury list could allow Moyes to make changes on the wings.
Should Harrison Be Dropped?
Jack Harrison has divided opinion this season. While he’s worked hard, his output in the final third has been underwhelming.
He’s contributed just one goal and one assist across 29 league matches, both coming since Moyes took over. Still, his decision-making and dribbling success rate—just 35%—have been questioned, and critics argue he lacks the spark needed in key moments.
Everton haven’t won a league game at Stamford Bridge since Paul Rideout’s winner in December 1994. But with Chelsea vulnerable, this could be a real opportunity. To capitalise, Moyes may consider benching Harrison in favour of Dwight McNeil.
Not a direct swap—McNeil could start on the left, with Iliman Ndiaye shifting to the right. This would also allow Abdoulaye Doucoure to return centrally, where he’s most effective.
Ndiaye, Everton’s standout this season with nine goals in 32 appearances, has played on the right before.
Deploying him there again could bring added pace and threat. McNeil, meanwhile, showed bright early-season form with three goals and three assists in eight games before his injury.
According to FBref, McNeil ranks among the top 10% of Premier League wingers for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes—proof of the creativity he can bring back to the side.
His style could benefit Beto too, who’s searching for form but has the power and presence to thrive with the right supply. Journalist Joe Thomas has praised McNeil’s “magic,” a quality many feel Harrison lacks.
With the season winding down, Moyes must also look ahead.
McNeil and Ndiaye are expected to play key roles in the future, and getting them more game time together now could strengthen their chemistry.
Harrison, on the other hand, is in the second year of a loan from Leeds and will likely return to Elland Road. For now, he should settle for a place on the bench.
