Everton’s perfect form came to an Everton-like conclusion via a penalty defeat to Fulham in midweek.
But can the Blues continue their flawless league form of late — especially away — when they pay a visit to an inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur side?
And how will Mr Dyche line up his players?
Who’s Out?
Quite a few question marks going into this one.
Vitaliy Mykolenko should be available again. Seamus Coleman might be available. Ashley Young probably won’t make it. Abdoulaye Doucoure definitely won’t be fit enough.
Only Dele remains a long-term absentee, with Andre Gomes now available after picking up fitness with the under-21s.
EVERTON SQUAD AVAILABLE VS SPURS
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Lonergan,
Defenders: Keane, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko (SLIGHT DOUBT), Coleman (DOUBT), Patterson, Young (MAJOR DOUBT)
Midfielders: Doucoure (INJURED), Onana, Gueye, Garner, Onyango, Gomes, Dele (INJURED)
Wingers: McNeil, Danjuma, Dobbin, Harrison
Attackers: Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Chermiti
Tactics and Formation
With Vitaliy Mykolenko hopefully back available, the need/desire for further defensive experimentations is over. Fingers crossed for a back four of Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Myko.
In midfield, Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner will almost certainly start.
McNeil and Harrison on the wings most likely.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a bit off it in recent weeks, but he’ll probably keep his place. Beto will be getting closer to the thinking though after two goals from the bench in his last three.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 10/10
Nathan Patterson – 7/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jarrad Branthwaite – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 7/10 – should Dyche be tempted to play a back five against the pacy Spurs, Myko can tuck into the left centrehalf role too and Dwight McNeil move back into the wingback role.
Idrissa Gueye – 8/10
Amadou Onana – 9/10 – the manager is confident the youngster has learned from the error he made.
James Garner – 9/10
Jack Harrison – 7/10 – hasn’t quite had the impact of Abdoulaye Doucoure playing behind the striker, and has looked leggy at times too.
Dwight McNeil – 8/10
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 7/10 – Dyche will be wanting more from his lead man, especially in getting away from markers than he’s shown in recent games.
Bench
Joao Virginia
Michael Keane
Ben Godfrey
Seamus Coleman
Andre Gomes
Arnaut Danjuma – looked bright in his substitute appearance midweek, will be wanting more minutes.
Lewin Dobbin
Beto
Youssef Chermiti
