Following a disappointing defeat at Southampton last week, Everton return to action against a West Ham United side who are also struggling.
But will Sean Dyche ring the changes after defeat on the south coast?
Who’s Out?
Some selection headaches could loom for this one with Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Iliman Ndiaye all doubts for this one – although all have been training in the last couple of days.
Seamus Coleman is once again on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, joining Armando Broja, Youssef Chermiti, James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam on the sidelines
EVERTON SQUAD AVAILABLE VS SAINTS
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Begovic
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Young, Dixon
Midfielders: Doucoure (DOUBT), Gueye, Garner (INJURED), Iroegbunam (INJURED), Mangala, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil (DOUBT), Harrison, Ndiaye (DOUBT), Lindstrom
Attackers: Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Chermiti (INJURED), Broja (INJURED)
Tactics and Formation
Although the Blues lost at St Mary’s last week, anyone who watched the game would have observed the Blues probably should have won given the numbers of narrowly missed chances they had.
Dyche also implied that he might not be making drastic changes given the performance too, but undoubtedly the biggest question is whether to bring Jarrad Branthwaite back into the frame.
The lad is class, no doubt, but Michael Keane is putting in some much-improved defensive displays of late, while also proving to be a significant threat in the final third. He’d be right to feel hard-done-by if he was dropped at this point – and Dyche is unlikely to do so.
Beto, meanwhile, put in an excellent performance from the bench last week – undoubtedly making a case for him to be given more minutes and this seems like a moment where he may be given that chance.
Other than that, I’m expecting Harrison to come in for Ndiaye – who is struggling with an injury and hasn’t looked his usual self for the past two games.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Ashley Young – 8/10
Michael Keane – 6/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 9/10
Idrissa Gana Gueye – 8/10
Orel Mangala – 6/10
Jack Harrison – 6/10 Has been at his least worst when in a central role, like when he came on against the Saints.
Dwight McNeil – 8/10 Left the game late on against Fulham, but played the full 90 against Southampton.
Jesper Lindstrom – 6/10
Beto – 6/10
Bench
Joao Virginia
Asmir Begovic
Nathan Patterson
Jarrad Branthwaite – Can Dyche really be this stubborn about keeping Branthwaite on the bench? We say yes.
Jake O’Brien
Abdoulaye Doucoure – Mangala has played well when he’s been on the pitch, so Doucoure could be rested here.
Iliman Ndiaye – Could be a second half sub for Harrison if he’s ineffective.
Harrison Armstrong
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
