After the surprise but welcome win away at Newcastle, Everton have pretty much cemented their reputation of being a much better away side than at home in their swanky new digs at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Tonight they welcome Burnley who are mired in a relegation dogfight and will prove a handful. This is a classic trap game for the Toffees, the exact kind that they’ve fumbled at home this season. When the Blues have been more adventurous, they’ve failed to cement their authority at home and gone on to drop
points – just two points in their last six home games tells the whole story.
In his pre-match press conference yesterday David Moyes played coy with injury news, adding that Seamus Coleman was also out. After the exertions at St. James Park, we can expect a couple of changes for this one.
Scott Parker will be missing a number of players – Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Jordan Beyer, Armando Broja, and Josh Cullen are all out, with Marcus Edwards doubtful.
Who’s Out?
Jack Grealish (foot) is unavailable for the rest of the season, with Carlos Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman out for a couple of weeks at least.
Everton squad available vs Newcastle
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish (INJURED), Dibling, Alcaraz (INJURED), George
Strikers: Beto, Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will stick to their tried and tested 4-2-3-1.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 7/10 The Ukrainian was back over the weekend and did decently enough
Jarrad Branthwaite – 9/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jake O’Brien – 7/10 Patterson might have a shout, let’s see
James Garner – 9/10
Idrissa Gueye – 9/10 Much better game from Gana on Saturday, likely because we were on the back foot for most of it
Tyrique George – 6/10 Surely he has to start when we’re playing at home against a relegation-threatened side?
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 9/10
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10
Thierno Barry – 9/10 Barry should return to the lineup
Bench
Mark Travers – The veteran keeper was back in the squad on Saturday
Nathan Patterson
Michael Keane
Tim Iroegbunam
Harrison Armstrong
Merlin Rohl
Dwight McNeil – Wasn’t bad at Newcastle, created Beto’s goal with his shot
Tyler Dibling
Beto
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Adam Aznou is once again going to be the odd man out.
