Moyes Must Axe Everton Star Who Started v Aston Villa

Everton were the better side in their 0-0 draw with Aston Villa but David Moyes will be pondering whether to make a switch in midfield after watching Tim Iroegbunam struggle in the middle of the park.

The Toffees couldn’t make it three wins out of four games thanks mainly to a fine display from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. While August’s Premier League Player of the Month, Jack Grealish, impressed once again, the same can’t be said for Iroegbunam.

The 22-year-old was sloppy in possession on several occasions, and Idrissa Gueye was often left to pick up the pieces. He is still growing, but his display against his former side suggests he isn’t ready to be a starter, and he should find himself benched for the Merseyside derby away at Anfield next weekend.

Moyes Needs To Drop Iroegbunam For The Derby

Everton now have several options in midfield after a solid summer transfer window which included the arrival of German midfielder Merlin Rohl from Freiburg. The 23-year-old came on for Iroegbunam in the 66th minute and imposed himself on the game with a cameo appearance that perhaps merits a start against Liverpool next Saturday (September 20).

While Iroegbunam fared well in the 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, he has failed to show the consistency Moyes requires of his troops. He gave the ball away on four occasions and only won one of three ground duels while running out of steam by half-time.

Moyes needs to ensure his midfield can handle Arne Slot’s dominant duo of Alexis MacAllister and Ryan Gravenberch, and Rohl showed he has the capabilities to thrive in the Premier League. He won three of his six ground duels and made one key pass, forming a tidy partnership with Gueye.

Everton were just lacking a killer instinct against Villa and settled on a point at Hill Dickinson Stadium, meaning they have taken seven points from their opening four games. A trip to Anfield can be a daunting prospect but Slot’s Reds have looked vulnerable on several occasions despite a perfect start to the season.

Rohl’s promising start, including against Villa, hasn’t gone unnoticed by Moyes, who said he’s liked what he’s seen from the German: “If you’re going to ask me to judge them after 20 minutes in a game, it’s really difficult. I am needing longer to see them, but what we have seen of him we like.

He added: “I thought today, he came on, it’s never easy and you’ve got to remember Aston Villa are one of the best teams in the Premier League and have been for the last couple of seasons and our performance was good against a really good side.”

Moyes may well now feel as though Rohl deserves a run in his starting XI, especially with the versatile James Garner performing superbly as a makeshift left-back. His quick adaptation could soon lead to a consistent starting berth if performances like the one against Villa continue.