Still a massive amount of work needed as Stoke beat Everton

Stoke City 1 - 0 Everton

Another step toward Premier League readiness as the Blues step out tonight for a runout against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium before they head off to Germany.

We have been promised our first sight of Hayden Hackney in the Blue shirt of Everton... will David Moyes come through with that?

Jarrad Branthwaite is not part of Everton’s matchday squad for tonight’s pre-season friendly at Stoke City as part of his planned reintegration into the squad following the hamstring injury he sustained towards the end of last season.

The centre-back played the first half at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and, as scheduled, will now continue full training at Finch Farm this week ahead of being involved in the Blues’ next friendly against Hamburger SV at Volksparkstadion on Saturday.

First Half

Dewsbury-Hall got things going, with a passback for a long hoof from Travers. Hackney showed some quick interpassing in the first forward move but crossed too close to the keeper. A ball to Beto's feet required him to turn and he was easily closed down.

Mykolenko forced the first corner, Tyrique George lashing a screamer from 30 yards, a foot outside the angle! Much more lively start than the previous two games...

George did well to intercept a clearance but too long to do anything with it before playing it too far in front of Dibling. Tarkowski was easily beaten and Travers was fortunate the shot hit his leg and away for a corner, Stoke having a decent spell amid some ragged defending by Everton as they kept being pushed back into their own half.

Dewsbury-Hall and Beto battled through the middle and finally got it out to George who somehow contrived to pass it over the goal line. Rohl clipped in a decent low cross but it went out for a throw.

A better move involving Dewsbury-Hall, George and Armstrong ended in a goal kick to Stoke, who were happy to exploit a disorganised Everton defence, Travers forced into a diving save.

Everton failed to break out effectively and Stoke put them under the cosh somewhat, with a number of half-chances, before they played it behind.

Dibling had a chance to beat his man but just couldn't do it. He was trying to get involved in the attack but Stoke were back quickly.

Everton continued to play it forward, eventually winning a corner that Armstrong took, headed behind by a defender. Another good delivery, again out for a corner from the other side. Great delivery from Dewsbury-Hall but a foul called on the Stoke keeper.

George was fouled but Dewsbury-Hall's delivery was punched away by the keeper. Dibling had another chance to run from deep with the ball but was far too easily dispossessed. He had a chance to play a through-ball but did not put enough pace on the pass.

Dewsbury-Hall and George worked it well but the ball forward to Beto was just a fraction too far ahead and the keeper was out smartly to snuff out the danger. Dibling again had a chance to create something but he didn't.

George was next to miss a great forward pass Dewsbury-Hall and the play simply wasn't slick enough to go anywhere. Rohl pulled down a great cross-field pass but Dibling again, with a chance to make something, was immediately closed down. Then he misplaced a simple pass and the build-up collapsed.

More simple Stoke pressure, Mykolenko beaten and a perfect opportunity tipped up onto the bar by Travers. The corner was cleared and George looked to break forward, passing to Beto but he stalled and turned instead of going for goal and then passed it behind George. Hackney dropped way too deep to really influence the play.

Second Half

Hackney off for Iroegbunam, the only Everton change, as the whole Stoke team were switched.

A terrible sequence ensued, in which Everton just could not play it out from the back, without Hackney. A Stoke snapshot from 25 yards flew just over Travers and the bar.

Stoke kept at it and won a corner. Tarkowski blocked a shot but Everton just could not break out even when Armstrong was fouled. His wide crossfield pass beat Rohl.

Everton were slow with the ball until Dibling drove forward, then played in Dewsbury-Hall whose shot was deflected behind.

Beto tried to drive forward but was body-checked. Nothing came of the free-kick. A really good build-up by Stoke ended up in a goal from a fair way out, a brilliant curler with Keane's attempted block probably not helping Travers.

Wholesale changes for Everton on the hour mark.

O'Brien lost the ball in defence, and Stoke really should have had a second, winning a corner. They kept pressing the Everton defence, King parrying a soft shot out for a corner.

Alcaraz made a nice drive in the channel but Aznou could not cross it. Graham replaced Dewsbury-Hall with 20 minutes left. But it was Stoke who again almost scored a second, a great strike across goal flew inches wide with King well beaten.

Graham tried to run at Stoke but just gave the ball away. Graham and Aznou weren't quite linking up properly down the left. Alcaraz had his feet whipped away from under him.

Barry played a promising ball to Graham but he was easily knocked off the ball. Aznou finally got a good ball in to Barry but he failed to shoot on sight.

Barry was clipped in the dee and Alcaraz set up to take it but drove it into the wall.

Everton again struggled to get forward until Rohl was fouled. McNeil put the ball in the right but it was cleared.

McNeil and Barry contrived to drive forward in the last minute, winning a corner that McNeil sent beyond the far post, O'Brien up well to head onto the bar.

King had to save a strong shot after that, before the final corner of the game for Everton.

If the first half was ultimately poor, the second half was thoroughly disjointed from an Everton perspective.

Line-up:

Everton:

Jeff Armstrong 3 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:37:13

Shirt numbers mean very little these days in regard to position.

I don't even think Pickford has claimed the Number 1 shirt has he?

Jeff Armstrong 4 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:44:04

Branthwaite not even on the bench, hmm

Michael Kenrick 5 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:44:34

Hackney is Number 30

John Collins 6 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:45:34

Any team news?

Michael Kenrick 7 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:47:45

Yep.

See above.

Armstrong, Dibling and George start.

Jeff Armstrong 8 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:50:34

Has he actually tried O‘Brien in a proper centre-back pairing this pre-season?

Don't think he has, the muppet.

John Collins 9 Posted 28/07/2026 at 18:55:30

6 of them decent going forward if allowed.

Looks to me he is prepping Tarkowski and Keane partnership for the first game.

Ian Bennett 10 Posted 28/07/2026 at 19:00:10

Right to take it carefully on Branthwaite.

Play him at the weekend.

George Freeman 11 Posted 28/07/2026 at 19:08:46

Jeff #4 Official reason to no doubt avoid speculation.

"Jarrad Branthwaite is not part of Everton's matchday squad for tonight's pre-season friendly at Stoke City as part of his planned reintegration into the squad following the hamstring injury he sustained towards the end of last season.

The centre-back played the first half at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and, as scheduled, will now continue full training at Finch Farm this week ahead of being involved in the Blues' next friendly against Hamburger SV at Volksparkstadion on Saturday."

Luke Welch 13 Posted 28/07/2026 at 19:27:37

Any links?

Jeff Armstrong 15 Posted 28/07/2026 at 19:46:20

We just need to keep Ricardo Fuller and Arnautovic quiet tonight.

Paul Kossoff 16 Posted 28/07/2026 at 19:46:32

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/everton

Tom Bowers 17 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:12:37

So far more of the usual stuff with very little going on in the Stoke penalty area.

George playing well, as is Dewsbury-Hall, but it's Travers we have to thank for not being behind.

Tom Bowers 18 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:20:19

George being a thorn in Stoke's side down the left wing.

We miss the tackling of Garner in midfield.

John Collins 19 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:20:54

I'm having Hackney straight away.

Looks a player.

Tom Bowers 20 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:23:16

Yes Hackney and Armstrong showing up well.

Darn it, my stream on beIN keeps switching to a Bayern Munich game. Kane just scored a pen.

Gavin Johnson 21 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:25:13

Moyes still sticking with playing Keane and Tarkowski when O'Brien could be partnering one of them. Hopefully he brings him on in the 2nd half.

Tom Bowers 22 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:25:37

We are trying to walk the ball in too often.

42 minutes gone. Still 0-0.

Paul Olsen 23 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:28:38

Dibling looks more and more like a dud. Always with his back to goal, and mostly looking pretty disinterested.

Should really be gunning on rightabout now, given the chance to actually play.

Tom Bowers 24 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:28:49

Everton are creating a lot of space until they get to the Stoke penalty area.

Half-time now.

John Collins 25 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:28:49

And George.

Jeff Armstrong 26 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:34:41

I believe Dibling is a lost cause, if we could offload him for half the money paid it would be great business.

Cos we're getting sweet FA at the end of this season and end up stuck with him for what? 4 years!

Gavin Johnson 27 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:38:33

I think Dibling would be better served taking the place of a sold Alcaraz and be brought on later in games in place of Dewsbury-Hall. I don't think he's a natural winger to be honest.

I seem to remember reading that he's more of a natural attacking central midfielder anyway, but Saints put him out there on the right wing cos it was the easiest place to get him used to playing in the first team.

David West 28 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:40:29

Looking like Dewsbury-Hall and George like playing together, Hackney and Armstrong in the middle look bright too.

Pre-season pace though, but Armstrong has never looked out of place in any game I've watched him. We just need someone capable of putting the ball in the net.

Michael Kenrick 29 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:40:48

I watched him closely and Dibling has been a huge disappointment.

Not disinterested... just not enough drive, confidence, or belief in his own ability.

If there was anything there, Moyes has obviously crushed, squeezed and destroyed it.

What an incredible waste.

John Wignall 30 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:40:50

I like the look of Hackney and George. Dibling a waste of space, he will not take his man on.

Beto is miles off the pace of the game.

Mike Gaynes 31 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:50:04

Right, Michael #29, gotta be Moyes' fault. Couldn't possibly be anything to do with the player himself.

All the youthful brilliance he showed for Saints... oh, wait.

All the compliments from his veteran mates at his performance and work rate in training... oh, wait.

How his captains came to his defense after Moyes said he had to get his finger out... oh, wait.

All Moyes' fault. OK.

Paul Griffiths 32 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:50:42

Gavin (27):

Alcaraz does not have a 'place' in our team.

Gavin Johnson 33 Posted 28/07/2026 at 20:55:12

Paul, I would say that is more to do with Alacaraz being injured or half fit for most of the season.

We still need an attack-minded midfielder who is another option from Dewsbury-Hall. I'm just saying that might be a better route for Dibling than out wide.

Tom Bowers 34 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:00:04

You knew Stoke would score first.

David West 35 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:00:18

Poor from Mykolenko.

John Wignall 36 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:05:19

Poor goal let in.

Mykolenko, George, Dewsbury-Hall all looking no one closing down. No leaders in the team.

Kevin Molloy 37 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:08:29

We just fall to pieces when a goal is scored, whether for or against.

If goals were removed from footy, I reckon we'd be one of the best teams in the whole world.

John Wignall 38 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:18:16

It's going be a long season...

Tom Bowers 39 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:28:55

The offensive woes continue and the only man who had the skill to make something happen is on his way out.

This is shameful.

John Collins 40 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:35:22

Didn't watch all of it.

Did we have a shot on goal?

Bill Gall 41 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:36:06

Well, there is just 4 words to describe that performance:

We are in trouble.

Keith Harrison 42 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:37:08

Appallingly bad.

Rohl head and shoulders, wonder if he could play in midfield?

Thankfully, Jarrad should be fully fit after Saturday, we need the dinosaurs and Mykolenko out of that defence, and either play Patterson or replace him... with a right-back.

George Cumiskey 44 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:38:04

Absolutely shocking.

People worrying about a right-back when we've got the two worst strikers in the Premier League! Just two efforts on goal and their goalie didn't have a shot to save, for fuck's sake!

Jeff Armstrong 45 Posted 28/07/2026 at 21:39:24

1 shot off target first half, one header off target 91st minute

Dire, it's not just down to the striker either, creativity was zero. Armstrong, Alcaraz, McNeil, Dibling, all bereft of creating anything for the lumps up top.