Everton will begin their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a pre-season friendly against League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Sligo Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
The Toffees are building towards their Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 17, while Sligo Rovers are 24 matches into their current domestic campaign.
Match preview
Everton have not been in action since ending their 2023-24 campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on May 19. Exactly two months later, the Toffees will begin their preparations for the new season with a clash against League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Sligo Rovers.
Sean Dyche's side will play five friendlies this summer, also tackling Salford City, Coventry City, Preston North End and Roma before beginning their Premier League campaign against Brighton on August 17.
Everton have made two signings this summer, with Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam arriving from Marseille and Aston Villa respectively, while as it stands, Ben Godfrey has been their standout departure.
Amadou Onana is said to be closing in on a move to Aston Villa, though, while Manchester United are still believed to be keen to secure the services of Jarrad Branthwaite despite failing with two offers for the centre-back during this summer's transfer window.
Everton finished 15th in the Premier League last season, but they ended the campaign impressively and will be determined not to be involved in a relegation fight during the 2024-25 campaign.
Sligo Rovers, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of three straight wins over Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Bohemians in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
John Russell's side sit sixth in their domestic table, boasting 34 points from 24 matches, and they are only three points behind third-placed Waterford on the same number of games.
Rovers have taken time out of their busy schedule in order to play this glamour friendly, but the team will actually be back in action two days later against Cobh Wanderers in the FAI Cup.
Sligo Rovers have been victorious in five of their last six non-competitive fixtures, and the hosts will be full of confidence due to their excellent run of result form.
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Team News
Sligo Rovers will be without the services of two players on Saturday due to injuries, with Conor Reynolds and John Mahon both missing for the home side.
Ellis Chapman has been the team's main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on seven occasions, and the 23-year-old is expected to operate in the final third of the field.
Wilson Waweru, who has netted three times this season, should continue as the centre-forward this weekend, but head coach Russell will make full use of his squad in this match.
As for Everton, new signings Iroegbunam and Ndiaye are with the squad in the Republic of Ireland, and both are expected to make their debuts in this match.
Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, James Garner, Ashley Young and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are set to be among the starters, while Branthwaite should also feature amid the speculation surrounding his future.
However, Jordan Pickford is a notable absentee, as the Toffees goalkeeper is having a break after representing England at this summer's European Championship.
Sligo Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGinty; Wiggett, Denham, Pijnaker, Hutchinson; Morahan, Malley; Mallon, Chapman, Fitzgerald; Waweru
Everton possible starting lineup:
Virginha; Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Doucoure, Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye
We say: Sligo Rovers 1-2 Everton
Sligo Rovers are expected to provide competitive opposition for Everton considering that they are 24 matches into their domestic season. The Toffees will be able to call upon the greater quality, though, and we are expecting the Premier League outfit to record a narrow victory.
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