Everton are set to host Leicester City at Goodison Park. It is a fixture that is crucial to both teams this season with both clubs well in the relegation fight. Last Word on Football brings you our Everton predicted lineup for the game that kicks off at 3 pm on Saturday, February 1.
Everton Predicted Lineup Vs Leicester In Premier League Six Pointer
How Everton Have Lined Up
In the last two matches, the Toffees have kept an unchanged starting lineup. As with every other league match this season Jordan Pickford was the starting goalkeeper. James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite are the first-choice partnership at centre-back and have helped Everton to eight clean sheets. Irishman Jake O’Brien has been a revelation as a makeshift right-back after making his League debut two starts ago. Vitaliy Mykolenko has made improvements on the left of defence and is still the only natural left-back at the club.
Read More: How Everton’s Defence Has Improved From Early Season Slump
Orel Mangala and Idrissa Gueye have formed a great partnership in a midfield double pivot. In front of them, Abdoulaye Doucoure played the role of attacking midfielder. On the left Iliman Ndiaye has been one of the team’s best players this season. Jesper Lindstrom has claimed the right wing for himself after his last two starts. Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke his scoring streak two games ago and kept his starting role as a striker in the following fixture.
Everton’s Recent Form and Tactics
Everton have won their previous two games, they now sit 16th with seven points between them and the relegation zone. There has been a clear shift in tactics with the appointment of David Moyes.
The Toffees are back to pushing higher up the pitch to force turnovers in their attacking third. This was a key feature under Dyche but it seemingly fell away as he focused more on sitting back this term.
Read More: How Everton Can Improve In The January Transfer Window
Their first two goals against Tottenham two weeks ago showed a new focus on direct passing from the midfield players. Progressive passes through the middle of the pitch rather than recycling the ball out wide a positive change for a team lacking goals.
Defensively they can shift to a five at the back when under pressure. Lindstrom slots into a wing-back role with O’Brien, a natural centre-back, moving into the middle.
Everton Injuries To Consider
In this week’s press conference, Moyes outlined the fitness of the first-team squad. Mangala suffered a knee injury that will likely see him out for the season, a big blow to the Toffee midfield who only got James Garner back last match. DCL has suffered a hamstring injury that will see him sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Everton’s Predicted Lineup
GK: Jordan Pickford
RB: Jake O’Brien
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite
CB: James Tarkowski
LB: Vitaliy Mykolenko
CM: James Garner
CM: Idrissa Gueye
CAM: Abdoulaye Doucoure
LM: Iliman Ndiaye
RM: Jesper Lindstrom
ST: Beto
