Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Everton have a stadium which is absolutely fantastic, now let’s build with it, but then you come to this transfer window, and you go, what, really? I’m quite stunned by it.

I’m kind of hoping it’s naivety from the new ownership to allow this to happen, to have such a small squad, it’s too small. There are big gaps everywhere. What happens if you get an injury to Thierno Barry?

Steve Round
Former Arsenal and Everton assistant coach speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live

David Moyes was tough and uncompromising, but warm. I think the very best managers are tough, but warm.

You felt that you trusted him instantly. He had your back, allowed you to work and supported you through it.

He is real and he is genuine. He tells the truth. I really like that in him as a person.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

It has been a tough build up to the game for Everton, who lost one of their best players, Iliman Ndiaye, to Manchester City on deadline day and then failed to complete a deal for USA forward Folarin Balagun.

With Balagun’s move from Monaco teetering on the brink of collapse, Everton called Manchester United about Joshua Zirkzee.

The Netherlands forward seems to be a peripheral figure at Old Trafford this season but United blocked his exit because they could not bring in a replacement.

It has led to a feeling this might be a good time for United to come here.

Carrick was having none of that when he was asked about it in his pre-match media briefing.

“Historically, all I know is going to Everton is a tough game,” he said.

“That's purely what is on my mind. If we're at our best, we'll have a good chance of winning the game.

“But they're a really good team and they've started well, so we know it's a challenge.”

Here is your 10-minute warning!

Go and get your cup of tea sorted and gather your snacks because kick-off is coming.

Chris Sutton
BBC Football expert

Everton ended up keeping hold of young midfielder Harrison Armstrong but they made a mess of their attempts to sign another striker before the transfer window closed.

I know Thierno Barry comes in for criticism and his finishing is erratic, but at least they still have him to lead their line.

He scores some brilliant goals too, as does Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, so I don't think it will be all doom and gloom for Everton fans this season, despite their frustration at the moment.

As for Manchester United, well I know some of their supporters think I am down on them all the time.

So, I'd like to point out I backed them to win their first two games of the season and they are joint top of the table (based on my predictions).

This time, I'm going for a draw, but that would still be a decent result for Michael Carrick's side.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

One positive on a difficult deadline day was the loan signing of Jack Grealish for a second successive season from Manchester City.

Grealish proved to be a popular addition to the Everton squad in 2025-26 before a stress fracture to his foot ended his campaign after a 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January.

While Everton's goal output was broadly the same with and without Grealish, their win percentage and points-per-game tallies were both significantly higher with the 30-year-old in the side.

Will he make an impact off the bench today?

Phil Jagielka
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

There’s a lot of negativity going around at the moment at Everton.

I’m not positive, but it is frustrating, obviously. We knew as a club we needed to do some business.

Upfront could be a sticky situation for Everton. I think Michael Keane will get the shout to go upfront out of anyone.

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Steve Round
Former Arsenal assistant coach speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live

The one thing with David is that he is a fighter, not a victim, and you saw that in his press conference.

I thought he was really good in his press conference, he concentrated on what he had, and not what he didn’t have.

He has to go into that dressing room and convince that team they can go and beat Manchester United, and you don’t do that by saying oh, you could have had him, and you could have had him.

The world has gone wrong. He has to do the best for his team, no matter how disappointed he is.

Everton are unbeaten this season with a win and a draw but the feeling isn't great at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after the deadline day debacle.

But now, it's over to the football and the Toffees can put transfers behind them with three points.

Here's David Moyes on their targets for the campaign: "I haven't really made huge targets but, behind the scenes, I speak to the players about what we're expecting.

"There's a lot of positivity and confidence about how we've started the season. I want to keep pressing on and keep the club going in the right direction. Our job is to challenge as near to the top end as we can."

Image source, Getty Images

Giulia Bould
BBC Merseyside reporter at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Very interesting to hear how David Moyes felt about how it was operating at the club.

It is an open secret that the Freidkin Group, who came to the club in December 2024 to buy Everton, are now looking for investment plus a full takeover.

It has certainly left a lot of questions. I feel that Moyes is sort of backs against the wall manager. This is where thrives. He likes being an underdog.

We found out this week he has never spoken to Dan Friedkin. Which I feel is interesting in itself.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

I think that is the tricky part really, because when I think of Everton in the Premier League era I think of David Moyes.

And the way that he speaks, he speaks as if he is someone who represents that fan base, because they have been through so much together at the old stadium, at the new stadium.

There were times they were in the Champions League, Europe, so to walk away in that moment the fans I think, would understand it. I wouldn’t think it would be something he would do himself if it wasn’t good enough.

But I do wonder as well from that Friedkin Group and so on if this is just an investment opportunity for them? Because for them to flip the club that quickly, and not spend that much money, I don't get it.

The reason I say this, let's link it to WSL for a second, Michelle Kang was talking about how this is a great investment to get London City Lionesses.

As a fan of a football club is that what you want to hear and see, or do you want to hear them investing in a football club. It feels like it's two different sets of objectives, and the fact that David Moyes hasn't seen these owners, but then the owners are always seen in Roma, what type of message is that to the people with stakeholders in the club?

Harrison Armstrong is the first teenager to start each of Everton's first three games of a Premier League season since Mason Holgate in 2016-17.

David James
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'm not convinced with Man Utd. I just think there's an opportunity for Everton to do something.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

The corresponding fixture last season was a largely forgettable affair on a Monday night, when Everton peppered Senne Lammens with corners and crosses late in the game trying to find an equaliser.

David Moyes insisted it was not a pre-planned move and said afterwards he didn’t like the tactic, but players had been almost encouraged to do it by the way rules had been implemented in the Premier League.

“It has been allowed to let go, whether it be blocking of goalkeepers or blocking of defenders, and you get the feeling now that referees really don’t want to get involved in any of it,” he said.

“It is nearly wrestling to an extent, which it shouldn’t be. It should never have gone to this situation.”

Hopefully, whatever the outcome, there will be no repeat today.

Image source, BBC Sport

Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

It was a stinker. It was absolutely awful the way that [Everton] have come out of this transfer window. I’m actually shocked about it.

I think, looking and listening to David Moyes when Julia was asking him those questions, I think the rage was showing beforehand and he was right to feel that.

If you look at the recent history, fighting against relegation, it was a nightmare for the fans who were thinking they were going to go down, fines, point deductions, it was hell.

Various managers held it together, but then David Moyes, from my thinking actually got a bit of safety, built a base, and then last season, breathed.

Both sets of players have arrived at the stadium.

Everton's players are taking in the matchday programme...

Image source, Getty Images

And out on the pitch it is 1-0 to Everton's ground staff.

As Man Utd's players inspected the pitch, the sprinklers came on.

Image source, Getty Images

David Moyes
Everton manager

I am disappointed that we didn't do more business and things didn't go our way in the end.

Sometimes in football you have to live with disappointments and move on, and we will.

It wasn't anyone's fault and ultimately it happens in football as the player had a problem in his medical and that was simply it.

There are no other stories behind it. That is exactly what happened.