Joe Thomas - Now isn’t the time for experimentation
Frank Lampard alluded to the fact he has quite a settled starting XI in his press conference yesterday. For this reason, it had been harder to give opportunities to a wider variety of players - which is why the line-up will see some variation for the Carabao Cup clash at Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is growing into the season and has responded well, physically, to his recent games and so should start today. Around him there is a case for Dwight McNeil to start for one of Demarai Gray or Anthony Gordon. But this is an important game and now isn’t the time for experimentation - the last two league games have to be about getting points to be in as good as place as possible for the World Cup break.
The Crystal Palace performance last time out at Goodison was one of Everton’s best under Lampard and there were elements of the first-half performance against Fulham that were also good. Therefore, there is only one change to my starting line up - Nathan Patterson in for Seamus Coleman.
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I think Patterson is a bit more dynamic going forward and he frees up the midfield a bit more. The Blues have struggled offensively all season but they were notably less effective during the early games of his absence. I’d like Everton to be on the front foot today and I think they are better equipped with him in the starting line-up against a Leicester side that has struggled away from home.
My team (4-3-3): Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Onana, Iwobi; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Gray.
Chris Beesley - Should now be a case of quality over quantity
Everton manager Frank Lampard reckons he's now got the strongest squad to pick from since he came to the club but whereas the Blues boss benefits from having more strength in depth and options on the bench, the starting line-up has been fairly settled in recent weeks and that should be a good thing.
The challenge is now being able to keep that larger pool of players happy and give them all sufficient playing time. But in terms of picking a team for this weekend's final home fixture before the World Cup break, there is no need for any major surgery.
Last time out at Goodison Park, Seamus Coleman rolled back the years with arguably his best display of the season, shackling Wilfried Zaha - a player that Everton once attempted to make their record signing - in what ultimately proved to be a comfortable 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace. However, as encouraging as that was from the 34-year-old, it should now be a case of quality over quantity when it comes to his outings.
Therefore, after being replaced for the fit-again Nathan Patterson in the second half of last weekend's goalless draw at Fulham the time is now right to recall the Scotland international and that would be my only change.
My team (4-3-3): Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko,; Gueye, Onana, Iwobi; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Gray.
Connor O'Neill - Time for Garner and McNeil to come in
After last weekend’s draw with Fulham, it wouldn’t surprise many if it was to be a case of more of the same this evening. Jordan Pickford will no doubt start in goal, with Conor Coady and James Tarkowski lining up at the heart of the Blues’ defence. Vitaliy Mykolenko will also, one imagines, be given the nod at left-back.
Nathan Patterson returned off the bench at Craven Cottage last weekend and he could come in for his first start since his injury for Scotland back in September. However, Seamus Coleman could well continue in the role, with Lampard opting to ease the full-back back into the swing of things.
In midfield, it is time for James Garner to come in for his first start of the campaign in place of Idrissa Gueye, with Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi starting alongside him. Dwight McNeil should also come in for Anthony Gordon, with Demarai Gray starting on the other flank, and Dominc Calvert-Lewin again leading the line
My team (4-3-3): Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Onana, Iwobi; McNeil, Calvert-Lewin, Gray.
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