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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Thomas & Chris Beesley & Adam Jones

Everton lineups as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Fabian Delph decisions made at Leicester City

Joe Thomas - Dominic Calvert-Lewin starts

There were a lot of positives to take from the performance against Chelsea, not just the result, but I would make changes today. Against Leicester City at Goodison Park, Everton struggled with the press and the front line was repeatedly bypassed.

Because Leicester were brave enough to leave men up it meant they then overloaded the Blues’s midfield and, in all honesty, could have scored more.

Last week Everton deployed five at the back when they were out of possession, Iwobi sitting in at right wing back at times. I would want Everton to play further up the pitch against Leicester and put more pressure in the middle of the park.

I think Allan can play a good spoiling role in their so would bring him in for Abdoulaye Doucore. I would then leave out Demarai Gray and start Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who should now be fit.

Richarlison was left isolated against Leicester, Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana comfortably dealing with him.

So I want a big man up top for Richarlison, Iwobi and Anthony Gordon to play off like they did so well when Salomon Rondon came on in the reverse fixture, for Everton to push further up the pitch and be more aggressive in the middle third.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford, Mykolenko, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Delph, Allan, Iwobi, Gordon, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Adam Jones - Salomon Rondon comes in

It might seem rather simplistic to just overload the Everton side with tall players in the event of set pieces...but why not try it? Everything the Blues have tried away from home in the past this season hasn't worked out, surely it makes sense to set up to hut the hosts' biggest weakness?

In that sense, I'd start Salomon Rondon up front. He's looked strong in short cameos from the bench recently, and would be great in those aerial duels that are sure to happen throughout the match.

That pushes Richarlison out wide with Demarai Gray dropping to the bench. But, aside from that, I'm not sure there needs to be changes to the Everton side.

Move Alex Iwobi back into his attacking midfield position and have Seamus Coleman as the right-back once more. Mason Holgate performed well last time out and scored on Everton’s previous trip to the King Power Stadium and so he's earned his spot in the side once again.

My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Holgate, Mykolenko, Delph, Doucoure, Iwobi, Gordon, Richarlison, Rondon.

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Chris Beesley - Richarlison leads line

It's a case of 'same again' for Frank Lampard and his Everton side at Leicester City in the hope that they can produce a performance of a similar level to that of last weekend when they defeated last season's European champions Chelsea 1-0.

Another display like that in the East Midlands and the Blues will have a chance of getting a positive result and perhaps even a first Premier League away success since August as they face Brendan Rodgers' men who had a difficult match at Jose Mourinho's Roma on Thursday night.

While I wouldn't alter any of the personnel, I would implement a switch in formation, going from the five-man defence that Lampard deployed against his previous employers.

When Leicester came to Goodison Park last month, Everton were overrun in midfield for prolonged periods so I'd move Alex Iwobi from his wing-back role, revert to a flat back four and place the Nigerian into the midfield.

My team (4-3-3) : Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Holgate, Mina; Delph, Doucoure, Iwobi; Gordon, Gray, Richarlison.

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