Everton manager Moyes believes the absence of Arteta’s Continental flair was keenly felt during the Europa League group stages.

“I thought a couple of years ago that the likes of Arteta and Pienaar would help us keep the ball better which I thought was vital,” he says.

“In the early stages we missed Steven and Mikel and we were struggling to retain possession, so hopefully they will help us.

“I think having a cosmopolitan squad makes the European games not as fearful. It can’t be a typical Premier League game, there are other aspects that come into the European ties.”

With Liverpool also drawn at home in the Europa League this week meant Everton’s game was switched to tonight, with the 5.45pm kick-off set so not to clash with the Champions League fixtures later this evening.

It’s something that still rankles with Moyes. “I don’t know what the atmosphere will be like,” he admits. “When you host a second leg, you know what you are getting, you know you will be seeing a finished outcome.

“This game is particularly hard. It’s teatime, people are still coming home from work and it’s something UEFA haven’t done very well.

“They have been really poor in evaluating a competition we want to do well in, and because it’s a Champions League evening, that’s why it’s the time it is and because two teams have been drawn in the city we have to go first.

“I don’t see why they couldn’t say that one of these sides will have to be home and away first and do it properly like that. They didn’t get it right.”