Amadou Onana’s suspension ensures Everton have at least one enforced change to make for their first home game of 2023 against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Onana was cautioned for a lunge on Rodri during Everton’s 1-1 draw at Premier League champions Manchester City on New Year’s Eve. It was his fifth booking of the Premier League season, resulting in a one-match ban after picking up previous yellow cards against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Manchester United and Fulham.
With James Garner set to be ruled out until the end of January with a back injury, Tom Davies and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who both came off the bench at the Etihad Stadium, are likely to be vying to replace the Belgium international in Frank Lampard’s starting line-up.
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Anthony Gordon, who missed the game at City through illness will also be hoping to force his way back in having netted his first two goals for Everton in the corresponding fixture against the Seagulls at Goodison Park on January 2 last year.
Everton went with a 5-3-2 formation against Pep Guardiola’s men so it remains to be seen as to whether Lampard reverts to a flat back four on home turf. Ben Godfrey came in as an additional centre-back to start his first game since the opening game of the season, playing alongside James Tarkowski and Conor Coady, who had been paired together in every Premier League fixture since the latter signed on loan, other than the 2-1 Boxing Day defeat to his parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers when he was ineligible.
Yerry Mina scored in that match but after later leaving the field with suspected cramp he, like Gordon, missed the trip to City due to being sick and could have his work cut out forcing his way back in. Demarai Gray’s spectacular equaliser against City might also make it difficult for Dwight McNeil to win a recall.
Up front, Everton will be hoping that Dominic Calvert-Lewin can lead the line again having come in for Neal Maupay although both strikers have just one goal to their name so far this term. Lampard could also have the option of Ellis Simms after he was recalled from his loan at Sunderland.
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