Everton vs Ipswich Town: Moyes Aims for Statement Win

Everton roll back into Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday for the second time in four days, riding the momentum of a cup win and an unbeaten league start, but with a newly promoted Ipswich side arriving with no intention of playing the part of grateful guests.

Cup surge, selection headaches

On Wednesday night, David Moyes’ side edged past Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 in the Carabao Cup third round, a tight tie decided by a flash of quality. Charly Alcaraz, drifting into space and working a neat exchange with Tyler Dibling, buried a left-footed strike that settled the contest and underlined the depth in this Everton squad.

Later that evening, the reward for that work became clear: a home draw against Newcastle United in the fourth round, to be played in the week commencing 26 October. Another big night at Hill Dickinson is on the horizon.

Before that, though, there’s the league. Everton have started the Premier League campaign with a quiet authority: one win, three draws, no defeats. It is not spectacular, but it is solid, and it has laid the foundations for a crucial stretch against back-to-back promoted sides. Ipswich at home now, Hull City after the international break. On paper, Everton’s quality should tell. On grass, Moyes still has to pick the right blend.

The midweek performance has complicated that job in the best possible way. Fringe players stepped in, stepped up and refused to let the level drop.

Dibling’s answer, Alcaraz’s reminder

Assistant Manager Alan Irvine set the tone before a ball was kicked on Wednesday. He revealed after the match that he had laid down a very simple challenge to Dibling: “You’ve got your chance; make sure that you perform well, and then you give the manager a big decision to make about whether you're in the team next time.”

Dibling did exactly that. He tormented Wolves, walked away with the Player of the Match award and delivered the assist for Alcaraz’s winner. One game, one statement.

Alcaraz, too, forced his way back into the conversation. Irvine said he was “absolutely thrilled” for the Argentine, describing him as “massively disappointed” whenever he is left out of the starting XI. That frustration fuelled his performance. At 23, he wants more than cameos. Now he has given Moyes a genuine dilemma in midfield.

The issue for both is positional congestion. Everton are arguably strongest in the winger and central midfield areas, where competition is fierce. A place in the starting XI against Ipswich may still be a stretch, but neither player could have done more to push his case.

Ipswich unfazed by the step up

Across the halfway line on Saturday stands a club still adjusting to its surroundings but refusing to be intimidated by them. Ipswich Town, promoted last season after finishing second, have walked into the Premier League and held their own.

Gary O’Neil’s side sit in midtable with two wins and two defeats from their opening four matches. That return looks even more respectable against the backdrop of a punishing schedule. According to Opta’s Power Rankings, Ipswich were handed one of the toughest starts in the division, yet they have not flinched.

Their most recent league outing summed up the mood in Suffolk. Away at Crystal Palace, they traded blows in a wild, open contest and came away with a 3-2 win, sealed by a 90th-minute strike from Zian Flemming at Selhurst Park. Late winners do more than add three points; they inject belief. Ipswich travel north knowing they can hurt established sides.

Team news: Branthwaite back, Armstrong close

For Everton, the picture is broadly positive. Moyes confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Harrison Armstrong is fit, but not fully ready to start. The forward edges closer, but this one may come too soon for a place in the XI.

Rohl remains unavailable, with the club keeping the exact nature of his injury under wraps. That absence slightly narrows the options, though the core of the squad is intact.

The big change is expected at centre-back. Jarrad Branthwaite, fresh from an England call-up, should return to the heart of the defence alongside James Tarkowski after both were rested in midweek. Jake O'Brien partnered Michael Keane against Wolves and did his job, but this is likely to be Everton’s first-choice pairing for the Premier League.

The question now is how adventurous Moyes wants to be with his rotation after the EFL Cup win. Alcaraz and Dibling will both be desperate to feature again. Whether they start or come from the bench, they have forced themselves into the conversation.

Predicted Everton XI

System: 4-3-2-1

Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall; Grealish, Barry, George.

It is a side that blends control and craft, with enough energy in midfield to press and enough guile in the advanced roles to break down a disciplined opponent.

Match details

Kick-off: 3pm BST, Saturday 19 September 2026

Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool

The game falls under the UK’s Saturday 3pm broadcast embargo, so there will be no live television coverage domestically.

A test of intent

For Everton, this is about more than three points. An unbeaten start is useful; turning it into a surge up the table requires putting away teams they are expected to beat, especially at home. Promoted opposition, a buoyant crowd, a squad humming with competition for places – the conditions are there for a statement.

Ipswich arrive with their own agenda. They have already shown they can live with the pace and power of the division, and they will not treat Hill Dickinson as a sightseeing trip.

One side trying to build something stable under Moyes. Another trying to prove it belongs at this level. By Saturday evening, we will know which story has gathered more force.