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Maitland-Niles faces Everton selection threat after Chelsea defeat

Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be facing fresh competition for his place at Everton after a difficult afternoon in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. The summer signing started at right-back on Saturday but was withdrawn after 55 minutes, shortly after Pedro Neto…

By Our Writers · Read Everton

Published: Monday, 19 October 2026 at 7:40 AM

Key Things to Know

Ainsley Maitland-Niles faces competition for his Everton starting spot following defensive struggles in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Manager David Moyes praised Merlin Rohl after shifting him to right-back as a replacement during the match.
The Liverpool Echo questioned Maitland-Niles' defensive consistency across recent fixtures against Manchester United, Hull City, and Chelsea.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Ainsley Maitland-Niles faces growing competition for his starting role at Everton following a difficult performance in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea. The right-back was substituted after 55 minutes, shortly after Jorrel Hato got past him to set up Pedro Neto's opening goal.

Everton manager David Moyes praised Merlin Rohl after shifting him to right-back during the match, noting the German performed well. Maitland-Niles' starting spot has come under question ahead of an upcoming Premier League fixture against his former club Arsenal.

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Maitland-Niles faces Everton selection threat after Chelsea defeat

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