Stoke City vs Everton – Match preview and team news

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

​Everton head to the bet365 Stadium to face Stoke City in the third fixture of the club’s pre-season campaign.

David Moyes will want to see improvement from his side after adrab goalless draw at Bolton over the weekend, a result which followed a 4-0 win at Dundee to kickstart the summer schedule.

Stoke struggled to make an impact in the Championship last season, finishing 17th, and have been unable to mount a genuine promotion challenge since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

Mark Robins’ side are stepping up their preparation for the upcoming campaign, which opens with an EFL Cup tie against Oldham Athletic on August 8th.

James Garner is a doubt for the start of the Premier League season after Everton confirmed the midfielder has undergone groin surgery. The midfielder has had an operation to address an ongoing issue, and he now faces a race against time to make the season opener against Crystal Palace on August 22nd.

Neither Hayden Hackney nor Tyler Dibling featured at Bolton, though both could be involved at Stoke. Hackney is yet to make an appearance since arriving from Middlesbrough this summer.

“Tyler Dibling misses the Blues’ clash with Bolton due to a minor knock, while summer signing Hayden Hackney continues to be integrated into squad training after recovering from an injury at the end of last season. Both players are expected to feature against Stoke City in midweek,” the club said of the pair.

Jarrad Branthwaite returned to the lineup at Bolton, as David Moyes experimented with a back-three system. Branthwaite is expected to sit out the contest at Stoke as Everton avoid overloading the defender during the pre-season schedule. Michael Keane could come in to replace him if Moyes opts to take another look at the new system.

Travers; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Röhl, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Beto.

Stoke City vs Everton: Match Details

Pre-season games are available to stream live viaevertontv. One-time match passes are available for £5.99 per fixture. All can follow updates here, on the ToffeeWeb Live Forum.

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Jack Convery

1 Posted
27/07/2026 at
15:53:40

The way the club is making me feel right now, if this game was played in my back garden, I’d close the curtains!

Tom Bowers

2 Posted
27/07/2026 at
16:20:25

Whilst we scored 4 at poor Dundee we should have scored at least once against a not much better Bolton. Stoke are another easy mark (on paper) but the usual suspects once again may let us down.

However, these games are just match fitness tests and we just need to get everybody in shape and in sync before the Palace game. After this come three much more testing games.

Tyrique George could be something special the more he sees action but putting the ball in the net is the only thing that matters.

Les Callan

3 Posted
27/07/2026 at
17:43:22

Tom, did you see something more at Bolton from Tyrique than I did?

Jay Harris

4 Posted
27/07/2026 at
18:33:34

Didn’t see much from Tyrique except a little run that went nowhere.\ r

I’m shocked to be saying I thought Dwight McNeil had a good game.

Branthwaite, Armstrong and Aznou also looked good.

Still desperate for a right-back and striker.

Derek Knox

5 Posted
27/07/2026 at
19:06:23

WOW Jack @ 1, How big is your garden, mate? 🙂

I know exactly what you mean, my interest has waned and waned, and while Moyes is there, I am not bothered whether they win or lose, to be honest.

I never wanted the negative twat back… the first time was bad enough!

Mal van Schaick

6 Posted
27/07/2026 at
19:55:07

European ambitions with that squad. Ha ha.

Christy Ring

7 Posted
27/07/2026 at
21:14:52

Just wondering, Hackney came back for playoffs after a long injury layoff, is he out now with the same injury?

Rick Pattinson

8 Posted
27/07/2026 at
21:49:26

Tenner says George scores

Mike Gaynes

9 Posted
27/07/2026 at
01:01:27

Christy #7, Hackney came in for a desperation 20 minutes at the end of the final playoff game — after a three-month layoff.

Certainly he couldn’t have been anywhere close to fully fit.

Hopefully that’s what’s happening now.

Paul Griffiths

10 Posted
28/07/2026 at
03:33:06

Everton Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Travers; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Röhl, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Beto.

A horrible thought that just flashed through my mind is that this is pretty close at the moment to our best starting XI.

Ndiaye is off to Al Hilal it seems and Gueye is off to Al-Diriyah.

We can add Pickford, Branthwaite, Anzou, Dibling, Hackney, and Garner to that predicted XI (am I missing someone?) leaving us with:

(N.B.: I see Barry/Beto as one)

Travers; Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Branthwaite, Anzou, Mykolenko; Röhl, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, Hackney, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Dibling, George; Beto/Barry

The only new face is Hackney.

Here we are with 5 weeks to go until the window closes and yes I am a tad concerned quite frankly. (Nor are TFG doing a good job over at Roma up to now.)

I’m a tad sick and tired of hearing that I should be patient when Saints Daniel-the-Absent and Angus-the-Silent are doing a perfect job of creating the very circumstances that trigger concern: absence, silence, no contact, little seeming respect for us or concern that we need some sort of reassurance.

The ‘calm down folks’ group – admittedly, very small – have zero knowledge apart from their self-generated ideas based on past windows when TFG were pulling the strings in one of them.

Saints Daniel-the-Absent and Angus-the-Silent have a poor record in the last two windows. But we now, of course, have our new crack recruitment team in place, and what do we have as August looms around the corner? Hackney. Goodness he must have been round-the-clock recruiting.

With a few weeks to go until the big kick-off we have yet to have a single scrap of evidence that this expensively assembled crack recruitment team is on top of things. But let’s wait and see as we go deeper into the second half of the window.

I’ve said before that we would have been better off recruiting one of the three B’s recruitment ace who knows very well the areas where we shop than Cox from Manchester Utd whose recruitment strategies are for various reasons on a different plane to ours. We have no chance in the short-term of getting anywhere close to one of the world’s biggest clubs. It’s reasonable to assume that Cox is shopping in very different stores now.

Let’s see how it goes. I’d rather have had Simon Francis who, however, is off to the desert and is busy trying to lure Ndiaye or Lee Dykes than Cox because the match and fit is so much better and will likely remain so for a while.

Anthony O’Sullivan

11 Posted
28/07/2026 at
03:52:59

It’s painful looking at that starting 11.

Just reading that Stones is off to Italy. Grealish won’t be back. Ndiaye is off to Saudi. I’d expect another run at Branthwaite too.

Our business has been shocking again.

Jonathan Oppenheimer

12 Posted
28/07/2026 at
03:59:00

Paul (10), you can be sick and tired all you want at the “be-patient” crowd, of which I am one. But one of the alternatives to what we have now is 3-4 players in whom we’ve overpaid for and aren’t good enough to get us where we want to be in 2-3 years. Every one of us could list the 10-20 players we brought in the past decade who didn’t cut it for one reason or another and whom we should never have brought in in the first place.

What annoys me about all the hate being directed at TFG and our recruitment team is that there is no evidence that they don’t care and/or don’t know what they’re doing. Maybe both of those things are true, but last summer was not good evidence of that being the case, other than that I’m of the mind that Barry was not a good buy and Dibling an overpay. But recall we desperately needed a striker and winger, and there’s still a small chance Barry at his age comes good and a decent chance that Dibling does. But more to the point is that we had to turn over the entire squad last summer, which we did, and had we not shit the bed the last 7 matches, everyone would be happy right now.

Will be qualify for Europe this next season? Maybe not. You could argue probably not. But if we had a healthy starting XI of Pickford, Aznou/Myko, Branthwaite, O’Brien, new RB, George, Garner, KDH, Armstrong/Hackney, Ndiaye/Dibling/new RW, Beto/Barry/new striker — assuming selling Ndiaye and others brings us the money for new RB, new winger, new striker. — well I’m okay with that squad. Others may not be, but it means we keep getting younger and hopefully faster, and maybe just maybe the patience will be worth it.

Paul Griffiths

13 Posted
28/07/2026 at
05:38:34

Appreciate the thoughtful reply Jonathan.

‘But one of the alternatives to what we have now is 3-4 players in whom we’ve overpaid for and aren’t good enough to get us where we want to be in 2-3 years’

Didn’t we just put together an expensively assembled crack recruitment team precisely to stop this from happening? It’s the recruiters who recruit not us. If Cox and co. are anywhere near as good as some say this should not happen again.

‘What annoys me about all the hate being directed at TFG and our recruitment team is that there is no evidence that they don’t care and/or don’t know what they’re doing’.

Erm, I for one have no ‘hate’ at all for the ‘recruitment team’, unless this is ‘hate’: With a few weeks to go until the big kick-off we have yet to have a single scrap of evidence that this expensively assembled crack recruitment team is on top of things”.

Not a single drop of hate there. Nor from just about anyone who has the temerity to criticise TFG or their recruiters. Here we are again, if you criticise – pick one – Moyes, TFG, or the crack recruitment team you are ‘haters’. ‘Negative’ is almost as bad. To criticise is not to be ‘negative’. It can be helpful, hopeful, and for the best.

You have no evidence that TFG, or the crack recruitment team do know what they are doing apart from the hope that I also share.

‘But if we had a healthy starting XI of Pickford, Aznou/Myko, Branthwaite, O’Brien, new RB, George, Garner, KDH, Armstrong/Hackney, Ndiaye/Dibling/new RW, Beto/Barry/new striker — assuming selling Ndiaye and others brings us the money for new RB, new winger, new striker. — well I’m okay with that squad.’

I talked about our squad today, this minute. A track record up to now.

Your September 2 squad does not look that ‘healthy’ to me and it is based on a fair number of assumptions. Like me, you have hope.

But as I keep on saying: ‘But let’s wait and see’.

Stephen Campbell

14 Posted
28/07/2026 at
05:47:38

What happened to IN MOYES WE TRUST and UTFT . remember he came back and saved us when we were on goal difference above the relegation zone 11th January LAST YEAR.You so called Everton supporters are so fickle its embarrassing.

Steve Brown

15 Posted
28/07/2026 at
06:15:15

The feedback or criticism of the TFG recruitment team is, and will be, based on outcomes.

Their knowledge and competence will be demonstrated by results, not their CV. It is the same in any business when executives and senior managers are hired – the recruitment team have been in role for several months now and need to make progress on their targets. The January transfer window saw zero progress so pressure is on.

Projections of potential recruitment spend under SCR range from 125-150 million based on commercial revenue; the headspace is there to sign players to fill positions where we have clear squad weaknesses – a right-back, central midfielder, winger and striker.

Big 5 weeks for the recruitment team to deliver.

No wait and see, time will tell, just be patient, it’s a journey, small steps, consolidation, stability or happily dissatisfied. Did I miss any?

Steve Brown

16 Posted
28/07/2026 at
06:31:32

You’ve tried that line before Stephen – “In Moyes we trust?”

Who the fuck has ever uttered those lines apart from you?

If you want to start up an appreciation club for Moyes, then enroll your dog so you are not on your own.

Paul Hewitt

17 Posted
28/07/2026 at
07:10:46

The game will end in a boring 0-0. Saved you 90 minutes of your life.

Paul Griffiths

18 Posted
28/07/2026 at
07:35:26

Mike Powell

19 Posted
28/07/2026 at
10:27:46

Chelsea are signing Danny Welbeck, and in talks with Jordan Henderson,if that was Everton signing them two,this site would go into meltdown

Andrew Ellams

20 Posted
28/07/2026 at
10:50:05

Dave Abrahams

21 Posted
28/07/2026 at
10:50:49

Steve (16) Steve if that dog could speak he’d tell Stephen not to bother!

Frank Fearns

22 Posted
28/07/2026 at
11:14:07

Mike 19 at least it would give us something to go into meltdown about.

Presently I’m underwhelmed by the total lack of activity by our crack recruiting team or will they give us the biggest surprise of our lives!!

Stu Darlington

23 Posted
28/07/2026 at
12:29:02

Paul @10,13
Careful what you say Paul!
If you persist in talking sense, you are in danger of being barred from this site or at the very least being accused of talking twaddle!

Steve Jones

24 Posted
28/07/2026 at
12:43:43

Stephen 14 – I’m with you. In Moyesia We Trust – and have to as he is our current manager. I am convinced that at the end of this window we will have a strong young and progressive squad.

We have 3 new perms signed – £50M+ Still five weeks to go. I’m confident we will get another 5 signings in and exit three or four.

The second half of the window is under way and I have faith in the “Recruitment Team” and the data analytics company we have acquired.

The squad is much younger and more progressive than 12-18 months ago – remember the attacking force of Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom, Chermitti, Broja – anyone?

Sean Kearns

25 Posted
28/07/2026 at
12:45:21

We want our Ritchie back!!! He gives it all for the shirt and he would absolutely embarrass Thierno Barry… a Jazza & Jake center back pairing with Ritchie up front might change our entire outlook. We weren’t awful last season but just need to be a bit more youthful all round and clinical up top. Hoping to see Braiden Graham get some game time…. I’m not a fan of goalies being captains, and Jordan is a bit off his head anyway.. who would be our captain if Tarky takes a back seat? I’d give it to Jarrad, the best left sided center half in the league when he’s on it.

Steve Jones

26 Posted
28/07/2026 at
12:52:41

Richie is the type we need in the sense that he can play on either wing and be both a goal threat, bring the fight and chase back.

We know the risk maybe injuries but could be worth a punt – if our top targets don’t land.

If we have a proper threat on either wing and down the middle – it will make a huge difference. Goals down the sides are crucial too – as we got 18 down the midldle last season, which is not too shabby.

Its going to be a case of our next best options if targets are lost to say a Champions League outfit.

Brian Harrison

27 Posted
28/07/2026 at
13:24:04

I hardly think games against Dundee reserves Bolton and Stoke are of any benefit, yes we know its about getting players fit but shouldn’t it also be about testing yourselves against similar opposition to what you will be up against in the Premier league. Its doubtful Garner will start and it will be interesting to see if Hayden gets any pre season game time. Looks like Ndaiye wont be here and possibly no Grealish so 2 of our regular front 3 wont start the season. We have yet to sign a striker and still no right back. We have supposedly put together a brilliant recruitment team but at present they don’t seem to be recruiting. We are playing kids in the first couple of friendlies but most will never see Premier league football this coming season, and I just hope we don’t end up with Beto and Barry sharing the main striking role.We all thought we had done well when TFG took over but they bought the stadium not the club, I cant believe someone could spend the money they spent on buying the club and not even bother to come and look around and could I suggest share their thoughts with the fee paying customers. I bet they visit every Toyota showroom they open.
Maybe seeing as they play in the Dunhill golf tournament in Scotland in October every year, he may pop in his private get and fly down to visit.

Sean Herbert

28 Posted
28/07/2026 at
13:36:05

A pint of what you have been drinking please Steve!

Sean Mitchell

29 Posted
28/07/2026 at
13:58:09

St Dan the absent has seen the stadium….. he’s flown past it in his fancy jet on route to his favourite love child, Roma.

Tony Abrahams

30 Posted
28/07/2026 at
14:35:13

That is a funny (to me) question that Sean, about who will be our captain, because someone has just sent me a WhatsApp of the 1966 cup final, and something dawned on me when Brian Labone, went up to pick up the cup.

1966 – 1984 & 1995, all have a couple of things in common. Three Everton captains – all picking up the FA Cup, and all three of them were central defenders.

Two number five’s and a number 4. Give Jarod the number four shirt and the captaincy immediately!

Jonathan Oppenheimer

31 Posted
28/07/2026 at
16:20:30

Paul, 13, apologies for lumping you in with the “haters.” What I meant was there’s so much hysteria online — what else is the internet for? — and much if it ends up in hater (or worse) territory.

I will be the first to criticize TFG and Angus and co. if this window is a failure. But the reality, I think, is that no matter what we do within reason will be seen by many as a failure, or at least insufficient. Or maybe that’s just because no one knows how much money we have to spend to stay within the rules.

If we knew we had £100 million left to spend, it would be easier to criticize. We all know the positions of need. But buy the Moise Keans, Lookmans, Vlasic types, people will complain, even if they look smart in hindsight. Overpay for a Gbamin, Barry or Beto, Cenk Tosun, Davy Klaasen, and it’s a disaster and poor recruitment to most. Finding the gems like Jarrad, the cast-offs like Ndiaye and KDH and Garner, none of it is simple. And having multiple positions of need makes it even harder.

Let’s all just agree we need a right back and if we don’t get one, even if they turn out to be the next Nathan Patterson, then we are indeed a complete joke.

Tom Bowers

32 Posted
28/07/2026 at
16:24:21

A lot of negativity here and probably some of it is deserved but I am sure there is movement behind the scenes but we are not in on it.

Blame is already being apportioned to all and sundry before the season has kicked off.

Moving some players out to get some cash may be what it takes to bring in some quality talent where we need it.

No matter what it will all come down to Moyes and how his tactics utilize the young talent that he has at his disposal.

The board have kept him on so I suppose it’s all down to the results in the first 5 or six games to see whether he will be persevered with.

Phil Roberts

33 Posted
28/07/2026 at
16:30:34

We have a team of
Pickford
Röhl O’Brien Branthwaite Anzou
Hackney Garner
Armstong KDH George
Barry-Beto

Subs: Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Dibling, Graham, Beto-Barry, 2xGK, (N’diaye/Grealish)
So who is not good enough – apart from the 17 goal a season striker.
And if we get a new RB, who is Röhl going to replace??

Maybe the recruitment team isn’t doing a bad job. We moan like mad, but who needs to be replaced from that team??

Jay Harris

34 Posted
28/07/2026 at
16:55:56

You can say what you like about the recruitment team and TFG but it is absolutely criminal that we have identified the need for RB for years and we still don’t have one for preseason.

Any top c;ub would have had someone lined up before the end of the season.

And like all of us they have seen the embarrassment of Bambi and Beton floundering around the pitch for the last 12 months.

I am sure a lot of Blues would have had Richy and Wan Bissake in before now with further additions to Full back and forwards before the season starts and binned Patterson, McNeill, Keane and Alcaraz.

Thelwell on his own was more effective than this bunch.