After a demoralizing 3-1 loss at Dean Court, Everton are back in action this weekend, when they welcome newly-promoted Sheffield United to Goodison Park on Saturday. The Toffees have now lost two and won two of their five league games and need to find some consistency if they are to fight for a place in Europe.
They face a Sheffield United side that has registered just one win so far this league campaign. But Everton have lost three of their last four games against newly-promoted sides and will have to be at their best to take all three points from this game.
Everton Team News
Richarlison had complained of a tight hamstring but is back in training and has been declared fit for this game. But Everton are still without the services of Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, both of who are nursing short term injuries.
Jonas Lossl is also expected to be out.
Predicted Everton lineup vs Sheffield United (4-2-3-1)
Defence
Jordan Pickford, though not at his best so far this season, remains the first choice shot-stopper for Silva. He will keep his place in the side under the bar while Michael Keane and Yerry Mina, who have started every game for the club this season will hope to provide Pickford with more cover in front of him in the Everton lineup.
They will need to keep the likes of David McGoldrick and Oliver McBurnie quiet in this game.
The Everton manager has also stuck with Lucas Digne at left-back and Seamus Coleman at right-back so far this season. Digne has struggled a bit in the last couple of games and will be raring to put in a match-winning performance against The Blades this weekend with Leighton Baines waiting in the wings.
Midfield
With Idrissa Gueye no longer an Everton player, Silva has used Morgan Schneiderlin and Fabian Delph in the two defensive midfield roles in the Everton lineup in Gomes’ absence. The duo to need to add a cover to the backline, while also keeping a close eye on the likes of Lundstram and Fleck in Sheffield’s midfield with Andre Gomes missing out.
Attack
Richarlison has registered two goals and an assist so far this season. He will keep his place on the right flank and will look to keep Enda Stevens, who has been in decent form this season, on his toes. Bernard and his creativity could pose a real test for the Sheffield backline. He could start on the left flank, keeping Alex Iwobi on the bench.
Moise Kean failed to have a real impact in the only game he started so far this season. He will only find a place on the bench as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored Everton’s only goal against The Cherries will continue to lead the line. Gylfi Sigurdsson will start in the no.10 role and could be the danger man for the visitors in this game.
Alternatively, Iwobi could also be shifted to the No.10 role, thus resulting in a benching for Sigurdsson who has been underwhelming thus far.
Here is how they might line up:
