Everton predicted line-ups and teams for the Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Goodison Park
Everton return to Premier League action when they take on Newcastle United at Goodison Park this evening. The Blues claimed their first three points of the season against Crystal Palace last time out.
However, the Blues could be without Jarrad Branthwaite this evening. As reported by the ECHO earlier this week, the England international is in doubt after picking up a quadriceps injury in training.
What should Blues boss Sean Dyche do if his star man is unable to feature? Our writers have their say…
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Chris Beesley – ‘At least two big calls for Sean Dyche today’
It seems like there are at least two big calls for Sean Dyche today for Everton’s home game against Newcastle United, one potentially enforced and the other offering a significant selection dilemma. Although he was photographed training with his team-mates as recently as Wednesday, it has been reported that last season’s star man Jarrad Branthwaite is facing a fitness battle to face the Magpies just a week after he made a triumphant return in the 2-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace as his first appearance of the current campaign helped inspire a maiden Premier League victory this term.
The Channel 4 commentator who described “The Carlisle Kaiser” as being from the North East when he made his international debut for England at Newcastle’s St James’ Park on June 3 might need a geography lesson but hopefully the centre-back can retain his place against the top flight outfit closest to his birthplace, as he not only adds an extra dimension to Everton’s defence but to those around him, but if not, then Michael Keane slots back in.
The battle for who gets the starting berth on the right wing is quite the conundrum. New boy Jesper Lindstrom has got the nod for the last three matches and has experienced some mixed fortunes.
The on-loan Napoli man’s pace has enabled him to get on the end of some golden opportunities to score but he’s spurned them all. At the King Power Stadium, when the Dane went off, the visitors lost their out ball and Leicester City got themselves back into the contest but last time out against the Eagles, he was hooked at half-time after a lacklustre display saw him waving his arms around in frustration.
Jack Harrison came on both times but latterly against Palace he was far more productive and he capped an industrious display with an impressive cross to pick out Dwight McNeil for his second goal with what proved to be the match-winner. Given this, the Leeds United loan returnee deserves a recall with the option to use Lindstrom as a potential impact substitute.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Mangala, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.
Joe Thomas – ‘Having an attacking threat may be the best form of defending’
This is going to be a tough game and Everton will need to be far better in the middle of the pitch than they were against Crystal Palace in the first half last week. Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton offer some real bite in the middle for Newcastle, and so I would bring Idrissa Gueye back into the starting line-up to help provide a more combative edge.
He would partner Orel Mangala, who I’ve been impressed with in spells and whose composure on the ball and ability to feed it forward is useful. I would play Iliman Ndiaye in the central attacking role because I think he will force that opposition midfield to have to think about defensive duties.
Having an attacking threat may be the best form of defending against that unit. I do think the Newcastle back line is vulnerable and so I would have Jesper Lindstrom running at Dan Burn, should he play on the left. I do like the thought of Ndiaye running at Kieran Trippier if Tino Livramento is out, but I would opt for Dwight McNeil on the left.
He is still a threat out there and I think Ndiaye offers far more of a consistent threat through the middle than McNeil, even if McNeil has had some excellent moments this season from a central role and deserves the recognition he has received as a result.
I also think McNeil will offer more protection to the defender behind him.
Claims emerged yesterday that Vitalii Mykolenko has picked up an injury, but I’m going to work on the basis he is available for now. I’m going to operate on the basis Jarrad Branthwaite is saved given his quad issue and the opportunity to rest and rebuild over the international break.
So Michael Keane would partner James Tarkowski and Ashley Young, who was excellent last week, starts at right back. The absence of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson is helpful given both have enjoyed good moments against Everton, though Anthony Gordon will be a threat on his return. Should Mykolenko be absent, then, for me, it would be Young on the left and James Garner at right back.
My team: Pickford: Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Gueye, Mangala; McNeil, Ndiaye, Lindstrom; Calvert-Lewin.