Will Grealish and Ndiaye make Everton more unpredictable?

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 1.

When David Moyes rejoined Everton earlier this year he demanded positivity, and after his team scored in 15 of their final 19 Premier League matches, he got the right response.

The Scot may be renowned for his pragmatic style and defensive organisation, but this summer’s transfer business points towards an even more attack-minded approach from the Toffees in 2025/26.

How are Everton changing their style?

Everton became a significantly more potent counter-attacking side after Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in January.

With the two managers in charge for 19 matches apiece, Moyes more than doubled the number of shots they had from fast breaks during the second half of 2024/25.

Going a little less direct than before, but still moving the ball forward at speed, Everton utilised the pace and athleticism of players like Beto and Iliman Ndiaye to good effect. This tweak was reflected in Everton’s goal output, which rose by an impressive 80 per cent.

Everton under Moyes and Dyche - Premier League 24/25

At times, Everton wanted greater control in possession under Moyes.

The numbers were not dramatically different, but the Blues did increase their average share of possession by 2 per cent, to 41.7 per cent.

To help take this modified style of play to the next level, Moyes needed to bring in players who are comfortable on the ball, who can also thrive in a side that wants to break at speed.

Will Grealish suit Everton?

There is great excitement at the prospect of watching Jack Grealish enjoy a prominent role in Everton’s starting XI, on the back of a frustrating 2024/25 season when he made just three Premier League starts.

Tactically it will be a major gear change for the England international to transition from working with Pep Guardiola, but in truth, playing in a counter-attacking team should suit him nicely.

In 2020/21, his final campaign at Aston Villa, Grealish was the key man in a side that ranked third for shots from fast breaks.

Grealish was a delight to watch, travelling with the ball confidently when he had space to run into on a regular basis.

As you can see from this chance-creating graphic below, he attacked the left side of the box magnificently from ball carries in the season before he moved to Manchester City for the start of 2021/22.

Grealish's chance-creating carries - Aston Villa PL 2020/21

Click here to zoom in on image.

Up against fewer low blocks than he experienced at City, Grealish should have more space in an Everton shirt to surge forward with the ball at his feet.

If he can rediscover the verve that made him a reported £100million player, he will thrill the home supporters at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Grealish attacking stats by season 2020-2025

Premier League season 20/21 with Villa, from season 21/22 with Man City.

It shouldn’t be forgotten that five seasons ago, Grealish was one of the division’s most outstanding creators.

In 2020/21, he ranked second in the division for chances created in open play (70), third for chances created (81), and joint-third for big chances created (14).

While he enjoyed plenty of highs at Man City, he has been unable to eclipse the productivity we saw from him with Villa.

Now 29, can Grealish get back to the same level? If he can, his loan move to Everton will be viewed as one of the signings of the season.

A strong left-hand side

Grealish is often at his best rampaging down the left-wing, but that is also the position Ndiaye occupied for much of last season.

Ndiaye has flair and is always looking to pull off clever tricks and flicks, but he also backed that up with nine Premier League goals.

He ranked fourth for the most successful dribbles too (see below) which is another indication of why Moyes is looking to play fewer long aerial passes from back to front.

With a dribbler of this quality in the side, it makes sense to give Ndiaye the ball to feet, especially in moments of transition.

Most dribbles completed - Premier League 24/25

As you can see from this graphic below displaying Ndiaye’s dribbles, he does enjoy running at defenders down the left.

Click here to zoom in on image.

Yet both Grealish and Ndiaye also have plenty of experience in central positions too.

Grealish has played many times as a No 10, and last season he was also used in the centre of midfield.

At Sheffield United, the lively Ndiaye played as a centre-forward and support striker on many occasions.

So, bringing a welcome dose of unpredictability, there is every chance Grealish and Ndiaye will rotate positions frequently over the course of 90 minutes.

From the right, Charly Alcaraz is another player who can seamlessly switch places with the No 10 on his inside, so we should expect a lot more unorthodox movement from Everton in forward areas this season.

Dewsbury-Hall adds power on the break

Meanwhile, in midfield, another new face fits in with Everton’s more attacking style — Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

He has the technical ability to create chances and provide control, as he showed when completing 25 of 26 passes, and making four key passes against Italian side Roma last weekend.

The former Chelsea and Leicester City man can play as a No 10 or as a box-to-box midfielder too.

Throughout his career he has shone when using his energy in wider spaces, and that should happen plenty of times when Everton burst forward on the counter.

At Leicester, Dewsbury-Hall netted 12 Championship goals from midfield in 2023/24, and although game time was limited for the 26-year-old after he moved to Chelsea, he habitually drove towards the opposition goal.

Dewsbury-Hall could feature in a left-sided central midfield berth, completing a triangle with Grealish and Ndiaye that looks especially strong.

Yet as this heat map shows, he is also confident raiding from the right side, offering Moyes lots of tactical options.

Leeds United will be fired up on their return to the top tier, and in front of a fervent Elland Road crowd, there will be uncomfortable spells where Everton are pushed back.

But Moyes is building a side that feels increasingly talented on the ball, and with more thrust on the counter.

It will be fascinating to see how effective this new-look Everton team can be in those moments.