Everton will restart the Premier League campaign with a trip to the Etihad to take on Manchester City. Both sides find themselves in the top 10 of the table heading into Matchweek 8, although Everton's being there is more surprising than City's.
The Toffees have not fared well at the Etihad over the years, with zero wins away to City going back to 2010, with Everton's last win over City, regardless of location, coming way back in January 2017 at Goodison Park.
This particular trip means that Everton will be without Jack Grealish, who is on loan from City and therefore ineligible to play against his parent club. So David Moyes will need to consider alternative ways to set up his side.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Rohl are also back in training, but it is unlikely that either will start the match. Meanwhile, Michael Keane appears to have recovered from his rib injury suffered in the win over Crystal Palace before the break.
With that in mind, let's take a look at how Moyes might set up his squad for Saturday's clash at the Etihad.
Everton Starting Lineup vs Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Jordan Pickford (GK): Everton's no.1 is locked in until 2029, and he'll be the starter here until then so long as he's healthy.
Vitalii Mykolenko (LB): The Ukrainian is healthy again, so he'll be the choice here, as Adam Aznou continues to be held out. This probably isn't a good fit for Aznou anyway.
James Tarkowski (CB): Another player who newly inked an extended deal, although Tark's long-term role is less certain than Pickford's. He's a starter until Branthwaite comes back, though.
Michael Keane (CB): No mention of Keane in Moyes' press conference suggests he's good to go. The question will be where he fits once JB is back.
Jake O'Brien (RB): We took a stab at what could happen if Keane couldn't go, most of which included sliding O'Brien back to his natural position. That isn't happening, so the Ireland international remains at right back.
Midfielders
Idrissa Gana Gueye (CDM): Only a few more weeks until he heads off for AFCON, but until then, he's the man in the middle for Moyes' side.
James Garner (CM): Among Everton's best players this season, especially when played in his more natural position in the central midfield.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CAM): There's a case to be made that Charly Alcaraz has earned a start here, especially since Everton aren't going to have much of the ball against City, and the Argentine's more direct play might work better on the counter. But KDH seems to have earned Moyes' trust and likely slides right back into the lineup after his suspension.
Forwards
Iliman Ndiaye (LW): While he's done what's asked of him, there's no doubt the Senegalese international is more effective on the left. With Grealish out, he'll head back out left.
Tyler Dibling (RW): The teenager hasn't seen a ton of the pitch, and he got a quick hook against Crystal Palace, so hopefully he gets a good run against City, where his ability to retain the ball could be useful.
Beto (CF): There's no real winner in the striker contest so far, but Beto's ability to hold up the ball will be essential against a City side that won't give Everton much of the ball.