Anthony Gordon to return as Frank Lampard alters system – Predicted Everton XI v West Ham
Frank Lampard must claim victory when his Everton side face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday (21 January), and he is expected to alter his team that lost to Southampton.
The Toffees have been in dire form since the resumption of the Premier League after the Qatar World Cup, and their 2-1 defeat to the Saints drew them level on points with Nathan Jones’ side at the foot of the table.
Despite Andros Townsend and James Garner being pictured training with the first team after their respective injuries, the crunch clash comes too soon for them. Lampard must instead decide on the correct formation after chopping and changing between a back five and a 4-3-3 all season long.
Jordan Pickford will continue to start between the stick for the Toffees, despite being questioned for his inability to stop James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick last weekend.
Lampard will move back to a back-four and will drop Seamus Coleman to the bench after a poor display against their relegation rivals last week. Ben Godfrey will shift to the right-back berth as Nathan Patterson remains sidelined with a knee injury. The 24-year-old will be need to keep it simple and nullify the threat Said Benrahma carries.
Despite Everton’s defence shipping 15 goals in their last six games, Connor Coady and James Tarkowski will continue in the heart of the defence, while Vitalii Mykolenko will continue his starting run in the team at left-back.
James Garner remains unfit to play following his back injury, and Abdoulaye Doucoure is still dreadfully out of form, so Idrissa Gueye will be tasked with shielding the back four. He will likely have to occupy the space Lucas Paqueta likes to operate in, and Lampard will need him at his combative best.
After impressing upon his return from ligament damage, Alex Iwobi will play on the right-hand side of the midfield three, with Amadou Onana as his partner.
The Belgian international was the best player on the pitch against Southampton and added dynamism and power to a Toffees lineup that was otherwise lacking a bit of oomph. He was rewarded for his efforts with a goal and is starting to show exactly why the club forked out the big bucks for him in the summer.
Switching from a back five to a four allows an extra attacking option, and fan favourite Anthony Gordon is subsequently brought back into the team after battling illness in recent weeks.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park this month, with Newcastle United refreshing their interest from the summer, but his importance to Lampard remains, nonetheless. [The Telegraph, 19 January]
Demarai Gray continues on the left wing after his impressive goal-scoring form, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin will spearhead the attack and look to add to his solitary Premier League goal this term.
Everton predicted XI v West Ham: Pickford; Godfrey, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Gueye, Onana, Iwobi; Gordon, Gray, Calvert-Lewin.