Everton predicted XI v Manchester City: Dwight McNeil axed, Conor Coady to return
Everton face Manchester City in their next Premier League fixture as Frank Lampard looks to turn the Toffees’ dismal run of form around.
Bottom-placed Wolves were the latest side to inflict further misery at Goodison Park after Rayan Aït-Nouri slammed home a stoppage-time strike to leave Lampard’s side on the brink of the relegation zone.
The trip to The Etihad is far from the ideal fixture for Everton and we anticipate Lampard to adopt a change of system against Pep Guardiola’s side. Like many teams who face City, a defensive, more systematic approach is the template for success.
Lampard opted to use a five-at-the-back system against Tottenham earlier in the season, which could well be deployed against City. We anticipate Conor Coady to come back into the side for Yerry Mina who was forced off against Wolves with a thigh issue.
If Everton do look to change formation, Ben Godfrey to potentially come into the back five, with Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson operating as the wing-backs.
Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and Alex Iwobi should keep their places in the midfield with potentially Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon operating up front due to Neal Maupay’s lack of goalscoring form at present. If Everton do play with a front two, it will likely mean Dwight McNeil is axed from Lampard’s first-team plans for the trip to The Etihad.
However, if Dominic Calvert-Lewin is deemed fit, we can envisage him operating up top with Gordon playing just off the 25-year-old. Stranger things have happened, but a win for the Toffees is certainly a long shot at the moment.