Dominic Calvert-Lewin returns, Yerry Mina axed – Everton predicted XI v Manchester City
Everton will look to bounce back from their demoralising defeat to Wolves with a trip to Premier League champions Manchester City on New Year’s Eve (Saturday 31 December).
The Toffees endured possibly the worst return to action following the Qatar World Cup, as they squandered an early lead against a Wolves side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table to pile more pressure on manager Frank Lampard yet.
A 95th-minute Rayan Ait-Nouri goal on the counter-attack left has created a powder keg at the Merseyside club, and matters could go from bad to worse with a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Lampard has some big selection decisions to make in order to reverse their league fortunes, and we predict a few tweaks could be waiting in store.
In between the sticks, Jordan Pickford will look to continue the strong form that has seen him linked with a move away from Goodison Park in recent weeks, while Vitalii Mykolenko and James Tarkowski also keep their spots in defence.
Yerry Mina’s comical display against Wolves which finished with a substitution due to cramp has condemned him to a spot on the bench – with Ben Godfrey making his first return to the starting XI after fracturing his fibula on the opening day of the season against Chelsea.
Conor Coady also returns to the heart of an Everton back-five after being ineligible to face his parent club on Boxing Day.
The experience Seamus Coleman brings to the Toffees could prove crucial when facing a barrage of pressure from the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish down his right flank, so he could return to the side in place of Nathan Patterson, who struggled with the pace of proceedings on Boxing Day.
In midfield, it is hard to see Lampard making any changes. Idrissa Gueye will sit at the base of the midfield and act as a shield for the back four, while tough-tackling Amadou Onana could be tasked with man-marking Kevin de Bruyne out of the game.
Alex Iwobi’s engine will also be crucial if Everton are to stand a chance of nicking a result, and he will need to cover every blade of grass when the Toffees break from their low block.
After being rested during the Boxing Day clash, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will certainly be drafted into the first team in place of Neal Maupay after recovering from his troublesome knee injury. Lampard will hope the talisman can prove himself a nuisance from set-pieces and offer his side an aerial threat in attack.
Antony Gordon will start alongside the Englishman in a front two, and he will look to link up with wing-backs Coleman and Mykolenko in attack.