Joe Thomas - Free hit for Ellis Simms
The only serious question for me is how to deal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's absence, should he be unavailable.
One of the best features of the result against Arsenal was that it was completely deserved. Everton were compact and organised at the back, forced Arsenal to attack through the areas the Blues were most comfortable defending and posed a constant threat at the other end of the pitch. It really should have been more than just 1-0.
Adopting the same approach tonight feels sensible. It will help the players to maintain a consistency of approach, this is another team that, even with its injury problems, has the weapons to hurt Everton if they get time, space and freedom in the middle of the pitch, and those who played on Saturday all deserve to retain their place in the starting XI.
Last week, Sean Dyche said Calvert-Lewin was 'touch and go' for the trip to Anfield. He played well against Arsenal and was central to the threat Everton posed due to his presence in and around the box. With Liverpool struggling at the heart of defence, Calvert-Lewin could really hurt them. If he is unavailable then it is a problem.
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Neither Neal Maupay nor Ellis Simms are close to direct replacements for him. Maupay has far more experience and can be a menace. But in a 4-5-1 that is dependent on getting balls into the box, it feels he would hold more of a nuisance value than a goal threat. There could be a temptation to play the two together up top, or one of them with Demarai Gray. But that would mean removing someone from the heart of midfield and I'm not sure that is the best way to go for an Everton side that had been so vulnerable for so long before the arrival of Dyche.
I also think there is a midfield battle Everton can win tonight and that could be central to a positive result, so should be where Dyche lines up strongest. As a result, I would be tempted to start Simms. I know there are sensible arguments against this but the combination of his physical presence, his goalscoring ability in and around the box (albeit one that has only been seen at lower levels than the Premier League) and the element of the unknown he would bring all make me think taking a chance on him might be the best option.
At the very least it would not mean sacrificing the resilience we saw elsewhere in the team against Arsenal. This is particularly important considering Dyche has said he does not see Amadou Onana as an option in a Marouane Fellaini-style role. If Calvert-Lewin is going to be in a battle for fitness and form for the rest of the season then Simms will have to play a role for Everton. Why not give him the derby as a free hit to make an impression?
An alternative would be to start Gray up top by himself and he was effective running at defenders against Manchester City and Manchester United recently. I just fear that he could struggle to occupy defenders apart from when he has the ball already at his feet and, given the lack of depth to Everton's attacking options, is one of few genuine threats that could be introduced from the bench.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Mykolenko, Coady, Tarkowski, Coleman; McNeil, Doucoure, Onana, Gueye, Iwobi; Simms (if Calvert-Lewin is not fit).
Chris Beesley - Fingers crossed for Calvert-Lewin
Surely Sean Dyche's biggest dilemma as he prepares to cross the park for his first ever Merseyside Derby concerns who spearheads his attack after the Blues boss proclaimed in Friday's pre-match press conference that centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin was "touch and go at best" to face Liverpool.
Hopefully Everton's injury-plagued number nine is fit to play at Anfield but the unsatisfactory reality around this situation is a direct result of the club's failure to bring in additional attacking options in January - a window in which all of their rivals to stay up strengthened. Blues chiefs knew they needed additional firepower with Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay on just one goal apiece all season and the former having struggled with his fitness for over 18 months now but despite owner Farhad Moshiri proclaiming "If we need a striker, we'll get one" and director of football Kevin Thelwell having been identifying targets for months, no new faces arrived.
Maupay can slot in if required but of course he is no like-for-like replacement and offers an entirely different skillset, ensuring that the team need to completely alter the way they play.
Potentially enforced changes aside, I'd keep things the same as they were against Arsenal. After all it was Everton's first win since October 22 and against the Premier League leaders too, something that shouldn't be sniffed at and such an approach could be a good way of trying to keep things compact.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Coady, Tarkowski; Gueye, Doucoure, Onana, McNeil, Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin.
Connor O'Neill - Maupay the man if Calvert-Lewin misses out
The big call around tonight’s team centres on whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit to start.
My suspicion is that he won’t be, meaning Sean Dyche will be forced to make one change from the side that beat Arsenal at Goodison Park.
However, apart from that, it should be more of the same from the Blues. That means Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Conor Coady and Vitalii Mykolenko making up the back line.
In midfield, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana should start, as should Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was superb on his return to the side last time out.
Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi should operate on either flank, and if Calvert-Lewin isn’t fit to play, then Neal Maupay should be the man tasked to the lead for Everton.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko; Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil, Iwobi; Maupay.
Louis Evans - Tough choice up front
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
After the thrill of last week’s 1-0 victory over league frontrunners Arsenal, Dyche would be wise to keep the consistency and reward those who helped the Blues turn the corner.
Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure really showed their mustard against the Gunners, another battling display will be much expected from the authoritarian Dyche.
Vitalii Mykolenko, who’s come under much flack this season for underperforming, is now tasked with containing the Reds favourite Salah. Ben Godfrey could be considered but after the Ukrainian’s improved showing last week, Mykolenko may still be the most viable option.
Calvert-Lewin - who was substituted after an hour against Arsenal - remains a doubt for the league strugglers. Neal Maupay is the obvious stand-in choice, but with just one goal in six league outings against the Reds, could Dyche favour the physical prowess of the 6’2” Ellis Simms?
My Team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; McNeil, Doucoure, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi; Maupay.
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