Everton travel south to face Brighton. It is David Moyes’ first away trip with the Toffees since he joined the club for the second time. Last Word on Football brings you our Everton predicted lineup for the match at 3 pm on Saturday, January 25.
Everton Predicted Lineup Vs Brighton In Premier League Clash
How Everton Have Lined Up
Since his appointment, the new manager has kept with a 4-2-3-1 that the team has used for the majority of the season. Jordan Pickford has started every league game in goals. In front of the England international, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski are the first-choice centre-back partnership. Jake O’Brien earned his first Premier League start as a makeshift right-back against Tottenham. Ukrainian Vitaliy Mykolenko has started on the left side of defence when fit.
Everton plays with a double pivot at the base of the midfield, Orel Mangala and Idrissa Gueye have both been performing well as a partnership. In front of them, Abdoulaye Doucoure is playing a more attacking position, occasionally dropping back to make a flat midfield three.
Read More: How Everton’s Defence Has Improved From Early Season Slump
Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom have proved to be Moyes’ first-choice wingers, both providing pace out wide. Dominic Calvert-Lewin broke his goal-scoring drought last match, cementing his position as the starting striker.
Everton’s Recent Form and Tactics
The Toffees earned their first win in Moyes’ second tenure at the club at home to the Spurs. They scored three goals in the first half against a depleted Tottenham defence. It was a positive for the struggling attack.
Under Dyche Everton often fired long passes into wide areas with the hope that the sole striker would run onto or hold up the ball. Now they focus on direct passing to running attackers from the midfield after gaining possession.
Read More: How Everton Can Improve In The January Transfer Window
Gueye and Mangala now have the license to play balls to attackers through defensive lines. This led to their first two goals in the last match.
Defensively they can shift between four or five at the back. O’Brien, a natural centre back will move on the right as Lindstrom makes his way to wing-back. There is also a renewed focus on pressing teams playing out from the back and forcing turnovers higher up the pitch.
Everton Injuries To Consider
In this week’s press conference, Moyes outlined the fitness of players in the first-team squad. Dwight McNeil has suffered another setback and is facing the possibility of surgery, possibly ending his season. Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner are back in first-team training but will need minutes with the U21 team before seeing first-team action. Armando Broja’s loan could be terminated as he is set for a long-term stint on the sideline.
Everton’s Predicted Lineup
GK: Jordan Pickford
RB: Jake O’Brien
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite
CB: James Tarkowski
LB: Vitaliy Mykolenko
CM: Orel Mangala
CM: Idrissa Gueye
CAM: Abdoulaye Doucoure
LM: Iliman Ndiaye
RM: Jesper Lindstrom
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
