Michael Keane makes his first start of the Premier League season for Everton with the centre-back set to partner James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence in this evening's match at Arsenal.
Keane steps in for Conor Coady, meaning three players who played under Sean Dyche at Burnley start for the Blues at the Emirates Stadium. In an otherwise unchanged line-up, Neal Maupay is up front again.
Dyche sticks with the 4-5-1 formation he has favoured since his appointment on Merseyside - one he first unveiled against the same opposition at Goodison Park in his first game last month. On that occasion a Tarkowski header was enough to overcome the league leaders for a morale-boosting three points.
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Tonight, Dyche sticks with the same formula, but with Keane getting his first opportunity to impress Dyche as Everton manager - and one other notable exception. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was key to the game plan that day but has not featured since he was withdrawn on the hour mark in the 1-0 win over the Gunners. Maupay, who has started the last two matches, plays in his place.
The Blues go into the game hoping to improve a dismal run when visiting Arsenal. They have won just once in their last 26 away games to the Gunners - a 1-0 win back in April 2021. Last season, then manager Frank Lampard brought his side here on the final weekend of the season and just days after they had secured Premier League survival against Crystal Palace. A much-changed team lost 5-1.
Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi retain their positions out wide with Abdoulaye Docuoure, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana in the centre of midfield. Tarkowski and Keane are flanked by Vitalii Mykolenko and Seamus Coleman while Jordan Pickford will no doubt face calls from the home crowd suggesting his opposite number Aaron Ramsdale should be England's number one - as Arsenal fans did on Merseyside a few weeks ago.
Coady is one of five defenders on the bench, which also includes midfielder Tom Davies, who needs one more appearance to reach 150 for Everton in the Premier League.
Arsenal, who would go five points clear of second-placed Manchester City with victory, are unchanged.
Kick-off is 7.45pm.
EVERTON: Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Doucoure, Gueye, Onana, McNeil; Maupay. Subs:
Begovic, Holgate, Gray, Mina, Godfrey, Davies, Vinagre, Coady, Simms.
ARSENAL: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Jorginho, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard. Subs: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Kiwior, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.
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