A riveting contest will be on the cards at Goodison Park on Thursday evening when Everton host Newcastle United in the Premier League.
The Toffees further plunged into relegation trouble on Sunday following a 1-0 loss to Wolves. This was the Merseyside club’s fourth Premier League defeat in a row, which left Frank Lampard’s side reeling in 17th place in the table with just goal difference keeping them out of the dreaded drop zone.
Lampard knows Everton are in big trouble at the moment and will want a strong response from his boys against a revitalised Newcastle United side.
Everton Team News
Tom Davies, Fabian Delph and Yerry Mina are all injured for Everton. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the weekend game to Wolves due to illness and remains doubtful to face Newcastle United later this week.
Jonjoe Kenny is suspended for the upcoming home fixture after being sent off for two quickfire bookings against Wolves.
Predicted Everton Lineup vs Newcastle United (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford has conceded 12 goals in his last six league games, managing just one clean sheet in the process. The England international’s form must quickly improve between the sticks if Everton are to retain their top-flight status.
Defence
Frank Lampard changed Everton’s shape to 3-4-3 to combat Wolves on Sunday but the move didn’t work out. Against Newcastle United, he would be tempted to revert to a 4-3-3 set up, with Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey starting in defence in the Everton lineup.
The likes of Coleman, Keane and Holgate must up their game and start delivering strong performances to earn clean sheets for the Toffees. Vitaliy Mykolenko did start as a left wing-back in the Everton lineup against Wolves but Lampard could go with the reliable Godfrey at left-back in midweek.
Midfield
Abdoulaye Doucoure and Donny Van de Beek struggled as a pair in midfield against Wolves as they failed to control the tempo of the game and create chances for the offensive players. Recalling Allan to the mix, thus, would make sense, as the combative Brazilian would bring balance and much-needed steel to the Everton midfield to stop the Magpies from playing their natural game.
The troika of Allan, Doucoure and Van de Beek must click as a unit for the Toffees to end their four-game losing run in the Premier League.
Attack
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubtful, Richarlison will spearhead the Everton attack against Eddie Howe’s men. Anthony Gordon has been the club’s bright spark in a dismal season and is a certainty to keep his place on the right flank in the Everton lineup, whereas Demarai Gray gets the nod to create opportunities for the striker from the left flank.
Andros Townsend and Salomon Rondon could be called upon from the bench in the second half if Everton are in need of a goal or two.