Frank Lampard to make 9 changes including new system – Everton predicted XI v Bournemouth
Frank Lampard will surely make several changes to his Everton side as they return to the Vitality Stadium for their second clash with Bournemouth this week.
The Toffees and the Cherries went toe-to-toe on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, and it was the home side who earned a dominant 4-1 win on the night as Lampard controversially made 11 changes to his team.
But after it all went pear-shaped, he is likely to revert to those he knows and trusts most for the game in a must-win fixture in the Premier League.
Jordan Pickford will celebrate his inclusion in the England World Cup squad by returning between the sticks in place of Asmir Begovic.
He’ll be joined by fellow squad member Conor Coady in the centre of defence with James Tarkowski, as Lampard moves back to his most trusted trio.
Nathan Patterson started the season as first-choice but struggled in the midweek fixture, so Seamus Coleman should come back into the side at right-back while Vitalii Mykolenko was afforded a well-earned rest and should now return on the left.
Idrissa Gueye has been a regular since re-joining the club from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, but his performances in recent weeks haven’t been great.
Lampard used a midfield duo of Alex Iwobi and Amadou Onana earlier in the campaign and it worked fairly well, so they could be used once again with their perfect balance of power, technique, physicality and skill combining.
That should allow Lampard to get an extra attacker on the pitch having seen the team struggle badly for goals this season, scoring just 11 goals in 14 league games so far.
Anthony Gordon has struggled for form this season, but he’s still one of Lampard’s favourites in attack and he will likely retain his place in the team despite a poor performance in the midweek fixture.
Lampard could look to use him more centrally and surround him with the pace of Demarai Gray on the left and Dwight McNeil on the right to provide more of a threat in behind the Bournemouth defence.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been ruled out with yet another injury for Everton, so Neal Maupay will also keep his spot in the starting lineup – with the only other alternative being to use Salomon Rondon.
Predicted Everton XI v Bournemouth: Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Onana; McNeil, Gordon, Gray; Maupay