Demarai Gray to finally be axed, James Garner to make debut – Everton predicted XI v Leicester City
Frank Lampard could look to freshen things up for Everton as they take on Leicester City in a crunch Premier League game on Saturday evening (5 November).
The Toffees bounced back from three straight defeats to earn a win over Crystal Palace before a goalless draw last time out against Fulham, and the boss could now look to get things shaken up with some changes to the team.
But Leicester are finally coming into some form themselves and he must be weary of that, but with the Goodison Park crowd behind them they will be confident of getting a result.
Jordan Pickford is the number one goalkeeper at the club and will remain so for the foreseeable future, and he should take the captain’s armband back for this game too.
That’s because after fully recovering from injury Nathan Patterson is now fit and available to replace Seamus Coleman in the starting lineup and provide more of an attacking threat down the right flank.
James Tarkowski and Conor Coady have got the best defensive partnership in the league so far this season, and there is absolutely no reason to break them up, while Vitalii Mykolenko should continue at left-back to keep Ruben Vinagre waiting for his debut.
Idrissa Gueye has been a rock at the base of the midfield this season since his return from Paris Saint-Germain, and he should keep his place in the side protecting the back four against a strong Leicester attack.
Ahead of him there could see change though, with Amadou Onana just one booking away from missing the next game through suspension.
That should provide the opportunity for James Garner to finally make his first start for the club since his summer move from Manchester United, in a box-to-box role to get the best from him.
He should partner Alex Iwobi in midfield, with the Nigerian likely to move between a third central midfielder and a number ten role in and out of possession.
On the wing Anthony Gordon is a sure-fire starter, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin will want to continue his good form since returning from injury, but Lampard should look to make another change.
Demarai Gray is struggling for form in recent weeks, with no goals or assists in any of his last ten appearances, so it should be time for Dwight McNeil to get the nod from the start.
Everton predicted XI v Leicester: Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Iwobi; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, McNeil