Everton Set for Statement Win Against Fearless Ipswich Town
Everton’s week does not slow down. After grinding past Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, David Moyes’s side are straight back at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday, this time with Premier League points on the line against newly promoted Ipswich Town.
The mood around the blue half of Liverpool is quietly shifting. Unbeaten in the league, through in the cup, and with fringe players forcing their way into the conversation, this feels like an Everton side beginning to stretch its shoulders.
Midweek spark from the supporting cast
Wednesday’s cup tie against Wolves was tight, tense, and decided by a flash of quality. Charly Alcaraz, given his chance from the start, stepped up. A sharp exchange with Tyler Dibling opened a pocket of space on the edge of the box, and Alcaraz drilled a left-footed winner that settled the third-round tie 1-0.
The move was neat; the finish ruthless. It was exactly the sort of moment Moyes wants from players on the fringes of his Premier League XI.
The draw for the fourth round, made later that evening, handed Everton another home tie, this time against Newcastle United, in the week commencing 26 October. A tougher test, a bigger stage – and another chance for this group to show that the early-season resilience is no accident.
Unbeaten and quietly building
In the league, Everton’s record reads one win and three draws. Not spectacular, but unbeaten. Solid. The kind of base managers trust.
Two newly promoted clubs now stand in their way before the next international break. Ipswich arrive this weekend, Hull City follow after the pause. On paper, Everton’s quality and depth should outweigh both. On grass, Moyes knows the margins are thinner, but the midweek performance from his squad players only strengthens his hand.
Alan Irvine, speaking after the Wolves win, revealed the challenge he had laid down 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.”
Dibling didn’t just listen. He acted. The winger ran hard, created problems, set up Alcaraz’s decisive strike and walked away with the Player of the Match award. Exactly the “big decision” Irvine had in mind.
The assistant manager also spoke of being “absolutely thrilled” for Alcaraz, noting how “massively disappointed” the Argentine is when he is left out of the starting XI. That frustration may now turn into a selection headache for Moyes – the kind every manager welcomes.
Ipswich refuse to play the underdog
Ipswich Town arrive without the aura of a newly promoted side just happy to be here. Gary O’Neil’s team finished second last season to climb out of the Championship and have wasted no time showing they belong.
Two wins and two defeats leave them in midtable, a respectable start given the schedule. Opta’s Power Rankings flagged their opening run as one of the toughest in the division, yet Ipswich have not flinched.
Their last league outing underlined that point. Away at Crystal Palace, they went toe-to-toe and emerged with a 3-2 victory, sealed by a 90th-minute winner from Zian Flemming at Selhurst Park. Late drama, big character, and a surge of belief for a squad still adjusting to the speed of the top flight.
This is not a side likely to sit back and simply survive. Everton have been warned.
Team news: decisions for Moyes
Moyes confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Harrison Armstrong is available but not fully ready to start. The update on Rohl was less encouraging; he will not be involved, with the specifics of his injury still unclear.
The real intrigue lies in how much weight Moyes gives to Wednesday night. Alcaraz and Dibling did everything they could to muscle into his Premier League thinking, but they operate in areas where Everton are already strong. For both, a place in the starting XI might still be a step too far, yet their impact off the bench now feels almost inevitable.
At the back, Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to return to the heart of defence after his England call-up and a midweek rest. He should resume his partnership with James Tarkowski, with Jake O'Brien and Michael Keane likely to drop out after handling the Wolves assignment.
Predicted Everton XI
Moyes is not one for wild surprises, and the shape should remain familiar. A 4-3-2-1 is again anticipated:
Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall; Grealish, Barry, George.
Behind that structure, though, lurks genuine competition. One poor half, one drop in intensity, and the likes of Alcaraz and Dibling will be ready.
Match details
Kick-off: 3pm BST, Saturday 19 September 2026
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
The game falls under the UK’s Saturday 3pm broadcast embargo, so there will be no live television coverage domestically.
So Everton arrive with momentum, Ipswich with nerve and nothing to lose. One side unbeaten, the other unafraid. On a tight, noisy Saturday afternoon in Liverpool, which story gathers pace?
