🏏 Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:00 BST
Hull City
vs
Everton
5-4-1 vs 4-2-3-1
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- Tenth-placed Hull City (eight points, 2-2-1, goal difference +2) host eighth-placed Everton (nine points, 2-3-0, +3) with just a single point separating them. The newly promoted hosts have made a strong start to life back in the top flight, while Everton remain unbeaten after five matches. With Manchester City already on 15 points at the summit, both sides need results like this to stay in touch with the upper half.
- Hull's form line reads W-W-D-D-L: a 2-0 win over Manchester United at home, a 1-0 success at Coventry, a goalless draw with Aston Villa, then a 2-2 fightback at Stamford Bridge before a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle, their first of the season. Everton's W-D-D-D-W includes three straight draws but no losses, and conceding only three goals in five games underlines how hard they are to break down.
- The tactical question is how Hull's 5-4-1 handles Everton's 4-2-3-1. In front of the back five, Hull field Sorba Thomas, a 23-cap Wales international who recorded 12 Championship assists in 2021-22 with Huddersfield, alongside the 191cm Matt Crooks, Regan Slater and left-footed Joe Gelhardt, on loan from Leeds. Everton's double pivot pairs Manchester United academy graduate James Garner with Harrison Armstrong, a 19-year-old who has been at Finch Farm since the age of five.
- The wide duels should be absorbing. Jack Grealish, 31, works the left after a career that took him from Aston Villa to Manchester City, and he is still rebuilding rhythm following a broken leg. On the right is Brennan Johnson, the Wales winger signed from Tottenham for a club-record £35m. They face Louie Coyle, a 173cm right-back who refuses to back out of duels, and Ryan Giles, a left wing-back whose crossing volume and quality earned him a strong reputation across the EFL.
- Aerial battles look certain to matter. Hull lead the line with 188cm Scotland international Oli McBurnie, who dragged Sheffield United to promotion with his physical hold-up play. Everton counter with 195cm left-footer Jarrad Branthwaite flanked by two 33-year-olds, Michael Keane and captain James Tarkowski, who will also have to deal with Hull set pieces that bring up 193cm Nigeria international Semi Ajayi and Republic of Ireland centre-back John Egan.
- Everton's attacking focal point is Tierno Barry, a 195cm Frenchman who scored 11 La Liga goals for Villarreal before joining in the summer of 2025. At 23 he combines height with genuine pace and sharp movement in behind. Hull answer with the experience of Egan and Ajayi plus 22-year-old Nassim Mendy, who has previously been on the books at Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano, and that match-up will set the tempo of the contest.
- Japan international Hidemasa Morita starts on the bench. The 31-year-old midfielder won the J1 title with Kawasaki Frontale, moved to Portugal with Santa Clara and went on to lift the league with Sporting. His combination of running power, ball-winning and clean distribution makes him an obvious option if Hull need to tighten their 5-4-1 block or calm the midfield late on.
- Hull's bench also contains a player facing his former club. Tim Iroegbunam, a 23-year-old defensive midfielder, came through the Aston Villa academy before a spell at Everton. He is at his best winning the ball and driving forward with vertical passes, so an introduction would set up a familiar midfield confrontation.
- Two contrasting goalkeepers will face off. Konstantinos Tzolakis, the 193cm Greek signed as Hull's record purchase for around £20m, made 131 appearances for Olympiacos and helped them win the 2024 UEFA Conference League at just 23. Everton rely on Jordan Pickford, the 32-year-old England number one who came through at Sunderland and whose distribution can launch counter-attacks as readily as his reflexes keep them in games.
- Both benches offer plenty. Hull can call on 19-year-old Robinho Vaz, who made his Ligue 1 debut at 17 with Marseille, Sweden's Elliot Stroud, an Allsvenskan champion with Mjallby in 2025, and 193cm Australia international Lucas Herrington, signed for a club record fee. Everton hold back Hayden Hackney, the reigning Championship player of the season brought from Middlesbrough in a deal worth up to £24m, and 20-year-old Tyler Dibling, a club-record arrival from Southampton.