Everton vs Ipswich Town: Early-Season Challenge Awaits
Everton return to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday for the second time in four days, carrying the buzz of a cup win and the weight of expectation. Newly promoted Ipswich Town arrive with nothing to lose and just enough form to be dangerous.
On Wednesday night, David Moyes rotated, trusted his fringe players and got exactly what he wanted. A sharp, left-footed strike from Charly Alcaraz, finishing off a neat exchange with Tyler Dibling, settled a tight Carabao Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers. One moment of invention, one clean hit, and Everton were through.
The reward came later in the evening: a home draw against Newcastle United in the fourth round, to be played in the week beginning 26 October. Another big night under the lights awaits. For now, though, the focus is back on the league and a start that has been quietly efficient rather than spectacular.
Moyes’s side are still unbeaten in the Premier League, with one win and three draws. It is the kind of platform managers like: solid, if not yet soaring. Two promoted clubs stand in their way next, with Ipswich followed by Hull City after the international break. On paper, Everton’s depth and quality should tell. On the pitch, they still have to prove it.
Dibling’s Answer, Alcaraz’s Reminder
If Wednesday was a test of the squad, a couple of players sat top of the class.
Assistant manager Alan Irvine revealed he had laid down a clear challenge to Dibling before kick-off: “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.” The winger responded exactly as coaches dream of. He claimed the Player of the Match award and laid on the assist for Alcaraz’s winner, a direct contribution that forces Moyes to think harder about his weekend selection.
Irvine spoke of being “absolutely thrilled” for Alcaraz as well, noting the Argentine is “massively disappointed” whenever he is left out of the starting XI. That frustration surfaced in the right way against Wolves, in the form of energy, movement and a decisive goal. At 23, he now gives Moyes a genuine selection headache in an area of the pitch already packed with options.
Those midweek performances matter. Everton’s strongest areas are out wide and in midfield, where competition is fierce. Breaking into that Premier League XI is not straightforward, even after a standout cup display. But Dibling and Alcaraz have at least forced their manager to pause before writing the team sheet.
Ipswich Punching Up
Across the halfway line on Saturday will be an Ipswich Town side that does not look overawed by the step up.
Promoted last season after finishing second in the Championship, Gary O’Neil’s team have handled a difficult start with commendable resilience. Two wins and two defeats place them firmly in midtable, a healthy position for a club still adjusting to the pace and power of the division.
The fixture list has not been kind. Opta’s Power Rankings marked Ipswich’s opening run as one of the toughest in the league, yet they have taken points, learned fast and refused to fold.
Their last league outing showed that resolve in full. Away at Crystal Palace, the Tractor Boys were dragged into a frantic contest but found a way to win it 3-2, sealed by a 90th-minute strike from Zian Flemming at Selhurst Park. That kind of late winner does more than add three points; it hardens belief in a dressing room still getting used to Premier League surroundings.
They come to Liverpool with that memory fresh and with the freedom of a side not expected to dominate. Everton will see this as a game they should control. Ipswich will see it as another chance to bloody a nose.
Everton Team News: Decisions for Moyes
In his pre-match press conference, Moyes confirmed that Harrison Armstrong is fit but not yet ready to start. The forward edges closer, but the manager will not rush him. Rohl, meanwhile, remains unavailable, with the details of his injury still unclear.
The real intrigue lies in whether any of the midweek standouts are rewarded. Alcaraz and Dibling will both hope for minutes, but cracking the starting XI may be a stretch given the strength in the winger and central midfield roles. Their best route could be from the bench, where they can inject the same urgency that turned the Wolves tie.
At the back, normal service should resume. Jarrad Branthwaite, fresh from an England call-up, is expected to return at centre-back alongside James Tarkowski after both were rested in midweek. Jake O'Brien and Michael Keane did their job in the cup, but this is a partnership Moyes trusts for the league grind.
The predicted Everton lineup in a 4-3-2-1 shape reads:
Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall; Grealish, Barry, George.
That structure offers control in midfield and plenty of creativity in the two supporting roles behind the striker. It also leaves Dibling and Alcaraz waiting, watching, and ready.
Match Details and the Stakes
Kick-off is at 3pm BST on Saturday 19 September 2026 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. Under the long-standing embargo on Saturday 3pm kick-offs, the game will not be broadcast live in the UK.
For Everton, this is about turning a solid start into something more convincing, using the energy from a cup win to impose themselves on a promoted side. For Ipswich, it is another test of their Premier League credentials, another chance to prove that midtable is not a temporary stop.
One club wants to stay unbeaten. The other wants to show it belongs. By the final whistle, we will know which story gathers pace.
