Everton are still not out of hot water as their relegation battle continues tomorrow night. A win would secure the Blues place in the Premier League next season, but Frank Lampard has major decisions to make in his midfield as his side face Crystal Palace tomorrow night.
Injuries and suspensions have been something Lampard has had to face since coming in as Everton's manager in January.
Our writers Joe Thomas and Sam Carroll have their say on the current midfield situation and who should start against Palace....
READ MORE: Frank Lampard could overhaul Everton midfield as defender returns
READ MORE: Everton know Burnley and Leeds truth but fans need help against Palace
YOUR SHOUT: Pick your Everton team to face Crystal Palace in huge Premier League clash
'Everton will be best off sitting deep and staying compact in the middle'
Joe: I think Frank Lampard will stick to the formation he has used over recent weeks when he lines up for Crystal Palace.
If Michael Keane has recovered from his illness then he will bring some useful height to the back line and Palace have so much pace and talent up top. I think Everton will be best off sitting deep, staying compact in the middle and forcing Palace to rely on crosses into the box rather than balls over the top. Everton will need a dynamic and solid midfield to deal with the likes of Connor Gallagher. They also need a midfield three that is fit.
For me, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan could act as a screen for the defence. Doucoure battled hard after Everton went down to 10 men against Brentford. He is the closest thing the Blues have to a box-to-box midfielder at the moment and, with a bit more quality, could have scored against Liverpool. He should have scored at Leicester City. But his ability to get stuck in and also cause some headaches for opposition defence will be useful. Allan adds some steel and, after his recent absence, will be a rare pair of fresh legs.
I would then bring Alex Iwobi back into the centre. He played well there when given the chance and will provide a link between defence and attack, hopefully being able to pick out the runs of the attacking players when Everton try to counter. They have missed that creativity in recent weeks. Iwobi has repeatedly shown he is willing to get stuck in and work hard too, so Jonjoe Kenny heading to right wing-back to allow Iwobi to play in a more natural position makes sense to me.
An alternative would be to keep Iwobi in defence and start Dele Alli. Alli has the ability to perform in this role - as a springboard for counter attacks - but I am unsure whether he is fit enough to start such an intense game.
Andre Gomes struggled to influence the game on Sunday, particularly after the sending off, and I am not sure he is the right person for the battle Thursday night will likely be. Tom Davies has been on the bench in recent weeks but I do not think this is the right time to give him his first minutes back after such a long time out with injury - likewise with Donny van de Beek, who has undoubted quality but has been out for weeks.
The lack of options in midfield have been a real problem for Lampard, who will surely want to overhaul this area of his squad in the summer. Injuries have bitten hard and it will be interesting to see who he thinks he can rely upon going forward, not just in terms of desire and quality but also with fitness.
'Fabian Delph - if it - is undroppable'
Sam: The Brentford game was a real opportunity for Andre Gomes to show Frank Lampard what he can do. To say he missed his chance would be something of an understatement.
Okay, Everton were down to 10 men before the 20 minute mark but Gomes' performance was a microcosm of his career at Goodison Park since he made the permanent switch from Barcelona.
He wasn't helped by Abdoulaye Doucoure looking badly out of form alongside him but Lampard could well be tempted to overhaul the midfield for Crystal Palace.
I did not expect to be writing this at the start of the campaign but Fabian Delph - if it - is undroppable.
The former Manchester City star simply has to start if available.
Alongside him, Doucoure keeps his place purely for his physicality and engine against what is likely to be a young and dynamic Crystal Palace midfield.
Conor Gallagher is set to line-up against Everton and it will haunt club insiders who passed on the chance to sign the England international after repeated scouting missions between 2018-2020.
And to combat Gallagher, Lampard may well be forced into a midfield three. Allan, just about, gets the nod ahead of Tom Davies. The Brazilian can screen the back-four and help guard against Palace counter-attacks.
But the options Lampard is left with show what Everton need in the summer. More than £90m has been splurged on currently contracted midfielders - including Jean-Philippe Gbamin - but it could be argued it is the main area of concern for next season.
