Everton survived a poor start to Monday night's 1-1 draw against Leeds, with Thierno Barry's excellent goal equalizing for the Toffees in the second half to help split the points.
The resurgence was largely powered by the return of a quartet of players from either international duty or long-term injuries: Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye from AFCON, and Jarrad Branthwaite and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from hamstring injuries.
On top of those players, Charly Alcaraz was back on David Moyes' bench, and Monday's match signals the end of Michael Keane's red card suspension from the Sunderland FA Cup match.
So outside of Jack Grealish and Tim Iroegbunam, Everton are as healthy as they've been all season, which will create a lot of questions for Moyes as he builds the lineup from week-to-week.
The circumstances will certainly change as the season goes on, especially if Everton make some moves before the January transfer window closes next Monday. But outside of those types of changes, let's look at the ideal setup for Moyes' side moving forward for 2026.
Everton's ideal starting XI
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Jordan Pickford (GK): No doubt here. The club is lucky to have England's no.1 minding the net.
Vitalii Mykolenko (LB): I know, I know. Ideally this is Adam Aznou, but unless Moyes opts to make his temporary shift to the back-three permanent, it's clear the Moroccan international isn't favored as an outright left back.
Jarrad Branthwaite (CB): He only played 45 minutes last night, but it was a reminder of how good he is as a defender and on the ball. He may not return to the starting lineup right away, but he should be locked in once he's fully fit.
Jake O'Brien (CB): It's time. The pairing of James Tarkowski and Michael Keane is too slow and lacking athleticism. This duo is the opposite of that. They're the future; they should be the present.
Nathan Patterson (RB): Like Aznou, he is not really suited to be a true right back. But unless they make a move for someone more suited, the Scottish international is as close as the club has to fill the role.
Midfielders
Idrissa Gana Gueye (CDM): Eventually, the club will need a long-term replacement here, and maybe Iroegbunam can be that guy. But for the rest of the 2025/26 campaign, it's Gana all the way.
James Garner (CM): The newest beneficiary of an extended contract with the club, Garner has found new life under Moyes. Long may it continue.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CAM): The no.10 isn't the best use of KDH, but he's generally willing to drop deep to get the ball and then charge forward. Not a traditional CAM role, but he can do the job.
Forwards
Iliman Ndiaye (LW): Missing Grealish isn't great, but getting Ndiaye on his preferred side is a silver lining in Grealish's injury. He looked sharp on Monday, and is good enough to lead the charge for Everton.
Tyler Dibling (RW): The Dwight McNeil as a right winger experiment must end. Dibling needs a boost in confidence, and playing him regularly with Grealish out is the way to get that for him.
Thierno Barry (CF): The striker is now Everton's leading goal scorer on the season, as he's starting to look more comfortable in the Premier League. Keep him there, no matter who ends up as his backup once the window closes.