Every game looks big for Everton now and a win over Nottingham Forest will ensure another team has to look over their shoulder. It might not feel like a six-pointer for them, but it will for us.
So with the Blues currently five points adrift from safety, how will Sean Dyche line up his side?
Who’s Out?
Few concerns for Everton this week.
Amadou Onana still hasn’t shaken off a calf problem and is unlikely to feature. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also been experiencing some muscle tightness, so the Blues will understandably be wary about starting him again. He’ll face a late fitness test.
Beto has shaken off a minor knee problem that ruled him out last week.
Andre Gomes and Dele are the only longer-term absentees.
EVERTON SQUAD AVAILABLE VS MAN UTD
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Lonergan,
Defenders: Keane, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson, Young
Midfielders: Doucoure, Onana (DOUBT), Gueye, Garner, Onyango, Gomes (INJURED), Dele (INJURED)
Wingers: McNeil, Danjuma, Dobbin, Harrison
Attackers: Calvert-Lewin (DOUBT), Beto, Chermiti
Tactics and Formation
It was a bad result last week, but it wasn’t the worst performance. Despite losing 3-0, the Blues created a raft of chances in the first half and actually had a higher xG (expected goals) than United.
Therefore, don’t expect a raft of changes.
If Beto is fit, it would surely be wise to rest DCL and give him a rare start. If he’s not, Chermiti is also worth a test.
Other than that, it’ll be mostly the same. Although one would hope Ashley Young’s latest act of clumsiness will see him resigned to the bench. I hope Patterson is given the chance to start, but Dyche loves a veteran, so it could well be Coleman. Either way, Young shouldn’t be a regular starter.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 10/10
Nathan Patterson – 6/10
Vitalii Mykolenko – 9/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jarrad Branthwaite – 9/10
Abdoulaye Doucoure – 9/10
Idrissa Gana Gueye – 9/10
James Garner – 9/10
Jack Harrison – 9/10
Dwight McNeil – 9/10
Beto – 6/10
Bench
Joao Virginia
Michael Keane
Ashley Young
Ben Godfrey
Seamus Coleman
Arnaut Danjuma
Lewin Dobbin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Youssef Chermiti
