Everton confirmed XI v Leicester: Yerry Mina returns, Dominic Calvert-Lewin out in 2 big changes
Frank Lampard’s Everton starting XI for the crucial Premier League meeting with Leicester at Goodison Park tonight (20 April) has been confirmed.
The manager makes two big changes from the side that beat Manchester United last time out, with Yerry Mina finally returning in defence in place of Michael Keane, and Demarai Gray replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin who isn’t in the squad.
The Colombian has been out since the early days of Lampard’s reign and the defence has suffered mightily without him so this is a big boost, but the loss of the main striker entirely is a blow.
Donny van de Beek returns to the bench after injury as the midfield three of Alex Iwobi, Fabian Delph and Allan remain unchanged.
Jordan Pickford is in goal behind Mina and Ben Godfrey with Seamus Coleman and Vitalii Mykolenko on either side.
Gray is alongside Richarlison and Anthony Gordon in attack.
Turning point?
After the morale-boosting victory over Ralf Rangnick’s side there has been an 11-day gap to plot the team’s next move.
It was a crucial three points, especially coming after what appeared to be a hammer blow in late defeat at Burnley.
Once the Clarets lost to bottom side Norwich the next day it turned out to be an excellent weekend for the Toffees.
They simply have to build on that now, not least because this is another game at Goodison where they are unrecognisable from the squad that travels.
A trip to Anfield for the Merseyside derby is a tough task in any year, but nearly everybody is taking a hiding there right now, so something positive to take into Sunday’s meeting would help.
And with the return trip to Leicester just weeks away (8 May) a psychological boost tonight could help in the quest for further points shortly down the line.
In other Everton news, one Sky pundit doesn’t expect a pair who arrived at the club with high hopes to get it right before one leaves the club.
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