Demarai Gray to be axed as Nathan Patterson to return – Everton predicted XI v Fulham
Frank Lampard could look to freshen his side up as Everton look to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League when they face Fulham.
The Toffees turned in their best performance of the season when they beat Crystal Palace 3-0 last week, but a busy schedule and players hitting form the boss could look to freshen things up all over the pitch.
A trip to south-west London against an in-form Fulham side awaits and the boss must make some big decisions about his side to ensure they have the best opportunity to claim all three points.
Jordan Pickford has been in sensational form this season and is arguably one of the best in the league right now, so Everton would certainly be weaker without him and he will start.
In defence, their back four is likely to pick itself when everyone is fit but with Nathan Patterson out injured recently Seamus Coleman has stepped in and performed admirably.
That gives the boss a big decision to make, but with Patterson establishing himself as first-choice earlier in the season and expected to be available for the game he should come back into the side for this game.
Conor Coady and James Tarkowski will continue at the heart of the defence, while Vitalii Mykolenko is likely to keep Ruben Vinagre awaiting for his full debut in the Premier League a little while longer.
The midfield three has established itself and become cemented as a key part of Lampard’s side, making it difficult for anyone to break in and get game time while they’re performing so well.
Idrissa Gueye sits at the base and breaks up play while keeping the ball ticking over in the build up, while Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi continue to have their partnership blossom as they support the attack and use their energy defensively too.
Dwight McNeil got on the scoresheet again against Crystal Palace after coming on as a substitute, and that should be enough to see him get the nod from the start ahead of Demarai Gray.
Gray has struggled to perform in recent weeks despite playing regularly, and maybe a short break will do him the world of good to avoid complacency.
On the other wing Anthony Gordon has kept the right wing spot as his own all season and his third goal of the season should see him retain it for this game, as he continues to improve and show his importance to the side.
Up front Dominic Calvert-Lewin has started the last two games and got a huge goal against Palace, so it seems highly unlikely that he’ll sit out of this game with the team playing so well with him in it as he pushes for a World Cup spot.
Predicted Everton XI v Fulham: Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Iwobi, Onana; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, McNeil.