Beto starts: Everton predicted XI to face Mansfield Town
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Credit: Imago
Chris Smith
Tue 26 August 2025 18:00, UK
Everton begin their EFL Cup campaign at home to League One Mansfield Town on Wednesday evening.
After a 1-0 defeat away at Leeds to start the campaign, the Toffees opened their brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium in style by beating Brighton 2-0 at the weekend.
Now, Everton will host their first-ever EFL Cup match at the 52,769-seater arena, and they’ll hope it can inspire better luck in the competition.
For all their historic successes – winning nine league titles and contesting 13 FA Cup finals, winning five – Everton have never won this competition, with their best performance being losing finalists in 1977 and 1984.
Sunday was a glorious day for Evertonians, who will have been nervous about their side’s chances in their Hill Dickinson Stadium debut after such a dreadful performance against Leeds.
Jack Grealish sparkled down the left, while the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall offered a level of quality the Seagulls couldn’t deal with.
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But for all the positives, there’s little doubting David Moyes will rotate against League One opposition.
Moyes certainly won’t be underestimating Mansfield, who have overcome a two-game losing streak to win their last four matches across all competitions.
Stats vs BrightonIliman NdiayeTouches30Shots2Goals1Successful dribbles3/5Successful passes10/11Iliman Ndiaye vs Brighton (FotMob)
Nevertheless, the Toffees have an important away trip to Wolves coming up at the weekend, so some key players will be rested — while others given a chance to shine.
Vitalii Mykolenko and Jarrad Branthwaite are edging toward fitness but unlikely to be risked here, while Tim Iroegbunam and Harrison Armstrong are both carrying knocks but should be fine to feature if Moyes wants them.
Nathan Patterson is also recovering from a hernia, but is being heavily linked with a move to Sevilla, so will probably sit this match out.
Back-up goalkeeper Mark Travers should be given his debut following a summer move from Bournemouth, but Tyler Dibling will probably be held back for the weekend after signing from Southampton.
Everton are short of depth, but may play a couple of players out of position to give them minutes, such as putting Youssef Chermiti on the wing.
Adam Aznou is returning to fitness and should get his first start for the club, while Beto, Dwight McNeil and Carlos Alcaraz will come into the line-up.
Everton’s predicted XI vs Mansfield Town (Credit: Breaking Media)
Football Insider verdict
Last week couldn’t have brought more contrasting emotions for Everton, with the defeat to Leeds and win over Brighton serving as bizarre bookends.
Now, the Toffees will want to keep up the positivity in their new stadium by putting away lower league opposition in style to progress in the cup — with a long-awaited trophy surely high among Moyes’ aims after leaving Goodison Park.
Mansfield have been in good form and are not to be taken lightly, having won their last four matches by a 10-2 combined scoreline — including a 4-1 victory against a well-backed Leyton Orient side at the weekend.
But coming up against Premier League opposition will be a completely different challenge for the Stags, and one that will prove too tough for them to handle.
Everton will fully expect to cruise through the first-ever competitive meeting between these two sides, maintaining a perfect record at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Prediction: Everton 3-0 Mansfield Town
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