A Premier League Test for League Two Side Accrington Stanley

As part of their pre-season preparations, League Two outfit Accrington Stanley welcomes Premier League side Everton to the Wham Stadium. Scheduled for July 15th, 2025, this preseason clash will serve different purposes for both teams. For Accrington, it’s an opportunity to test themselves against top-tier opposition. For Everton, it marks the beginning of David Moyes’s tactical fine-tuning ahead of a long and demanding 2025–26 Premier League season.

The match also rekindles memories from their previous meeting in 2013, when Everton ran out 4-1 winners. Twelve years later, both clubs find themselves in starkly different situations but united by a shared goal: preparing their squads for competitive football.

Match Details:

• Date: July 15th, 2025

• Kick-off Time: 06:45 PM (UTC)

• Venue: Wham Stadium

• Competition: Club Friendlies

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Team Previews

Accrington Stanley: League Two Survival to Steady Progression

Accrington finished a disappointing 21st in League Two last season, earning only 50 points from 46 matches. John Doolan’s men were eight points clear of relegation, and while that’s a positive, the overall campaign fell short of expectations.

Accrington are now focused on their League Two opener against Gillingham on August 2. Preseason is already underway, with the Reds falling 2-1 to Blackburn Rovers in their previous friendly on July 12. This match against Everton will help assess fitness levels and test new tactical ideas.

New Signings to Watch

• Freddie Sass—Left-back
• Isaac Sinclair—Right-sided attacker
• Oliver Wright—Goalkeeper

They’ve also lost some key players, including Seb Quirk and Liam Isherwood.

Everton: Moyes Returns to Stabilize and Rebuild

David Moyes guided Everton to a respectable 13th-place finish in the Premier League last season. With expectations now raised, the Toffees aim for a top-half finish and potentially a run in the domestic cups or even a European spot.

Their pre-season journey begins with this clash against Accrington before they take on Blackburn on July 19. The squad will then head to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series, featuring games against Bournemouth, West Ham United, and Manchester United.

New Signings

• Thierno Barry (from Villarreal)—$27m striker, though he’s unavailable for this match

• Carlos Alcaraz—Made permanent after a successful loan

Veteran striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has departed on a free transfer, and Barry is tipped to be his long-term replacement.

Team News & Possible Lineups

Accrington Stanley Starting XI Prediction:

Wright (GK); Love, Rawson, Matthews, Sass; Conneely, Coyle; Walton, Henderson, Whalley; Mooney

• Kelsey Mooney is expected to lead the line.

• Shaun Whalley should feature from the start.

• Doolan may field two different XIs in each half.

Everton Starting XI Prediction:

Pickford (or Tyrer); Patterson, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Alcaraz, McNeil; Beto

• Jordan Pickford, Gueye, and Ndiaye may be unavailable due to extended breaks.

• Youngsters like Harry Tyrer (GK), Harrison Armstrong (MF), and Braiden Graham (FW) may get minutes.

• Moyes may opt to mix experience with youth and rotate heavily.

Head-to-Head: A Rare Fixture

• Last Meeting: July 2013 (Everton won 4-1)

• This is only the second meeting between the clubs in over a decade.

• Everton will be keen to replicate that result under David Moyes.

Key Stats & Insights

Accrington Stanley (Club Friendlies):

• Played 5 matches

• Wins: 0 | Draws: 0 | Losses: 5

• Goals scored: 2 | Goals conceded: 9

• Goal difference: -7

• 67% of home matches saw both teams’s scores

• Time to score at home: 24.5 minutes (average)

Everton (Club Friendlies):

• Played 5 matches

• Wins: 1 | Draws: 2 | Losses: 2

• Goals scored: 7 | Goals conceded: 8

• Goal difference: -1

• Both teams scored in 50% of their games.

• Time to score away: 24 minutes (average)

Players to Watch

Accrington Stanley:

• Kelsey Mooney: Experienced lower-league striker looking to make a mark.

• Isaac Sinclair: A dynamic presence on the right flank.

• Oliver Wright: New goalkeeper aiming to secure the No. 1 jersey.

Everton:

• Carlos Alcaraz: Midfielder with creativity and flair, now a permanent Toffee.

• Beto: Improved his goal tally significantly last season and should lead the line.

• Jarrad Branthwaite: A defensive rock; signed a new long-term deal.

Tactical Analysis

Accrington will likely play a compact 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to soak up pressure and hit on the counter through Mooney and Sinclair. Expect them to test Everton’s fitness levels early on and disrupt their rhythm.

Everton, on the other hand, will use this match to assess squad depth. Moyes may employ a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape. With key first-team players just returning from international duty, young talent will get their chance. Alcaraz could be the main link between midfield and attack, while McNeil and Ndiaye (if available) provide width.

Set pieces may prove crucial for Everton, especially with towering figures like Keane and Branthwaite in defense. Expect lots of ball retention and probing attacks through the flanks.

Prediction

Accrington are further along in their pre-season schedule, but the class gap between League Two and the Premier League is vast. Everton may not be at full strength, but the technical and tactical superiority they possess should see them through.

Current Betting Odds from Stake.com

Score Prediction: Accrington Stanley 1-3 Everton

• Everton to dominate possession

• Both teams are likely to score.

• Beto and Alcaraz to impress for the visitors

Conclusion

Tuesday night’s preseason clash between Accrington Stanley and Everton is more than just a warm-up; it’s a chance for players to shine, for managers to experiment, and for fans to get a glimpse of what lies ahead.

With Everton eyeing a strong season under Moyes and Accrington working toward League Two stability, expect an engaging encounter. From tactical tweaks to promising youngsters, there’s a lot to unpack—and a lot to enjoy.

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