George Overhill

Thu 9 February 2023 20:10, UK

Sean Dyche is predicted to make one major change to his winning Everton line-up for the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Monday.

The Toffees boss got off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Mikel Arteta’s league-leading Arsenal side on 4 February, and there is little reason to change for the trip to Anfield, but he may be forced to bring Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of the starting line up for Neal Maupay.

Dyche made one change throughout his first game in charge, replacing the England striker with his French back up just after James Tarkowski had headed Everton into the lead.

The former Clarets boss said afterwards that it was a precautionary measure, in light of a hamstring concern for the injury-hit striker, with a scan due in the week.

Dyche said, via the Liverpool Echo: “We will have to wait and see. I don’t think it is a drastic one but he needs to settle it down so we will probably give it two days before we scan it just as a precaution at this stage.”

Given the fruitless transfer window, and the damage it would do to lose Calvert-Lewin again for an extended period, any doubts are likely to mean the number nine returns to the bench.

The rest of the XI surely picks itself in light of the performance against Arsenal, and with Maupay looking every bit the nuisance as a substitute he was known for being at Brighton rather than the muted presence he so often was under Frank Lampard, his inclusion could be important against a struggling Liverpool back line.

Jordan Pickford will be in goal, behind a back four of Vitalii Mykolenko, James Tarkowski, Conor Coady and captain Seamus Coleman.

The midfield will again be packed with Idrissa Gana Gueye, Amadou Onana and the back-in-from-the-cold Abdoulaye Doucoure, with Alex Iwobi and former Claret Dwight McNeil providing pace out wide.

The restored Maupay will be charged with hassling the home defence that is expected to still be without Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate [Premier Injuries].