Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane to be axed after Arsenal shocker – Everton predicted XI v Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche is likely to make some changes to his Everton starting lineup as they look to get back to winning ways against Nottingham Forest on Sunday (5 March).
The Toffees were beaten 4-0 in midweek by league leaders Arsenal, which saw them stay in the relegation zone with just 13 games remaining of the season.
Dyche now takes his side to the City Ground knowing they must win to give themselves a chance of building momentum ahead of a tough run, and that means changes are likely to be made to the team after a disappointing performance last time out.
Jordan Pickford could have done better against Arsenal but it wouldn’t have altered the result too much, and he’s still the best goalkeeper in the squad so he will start once again.
Nathan Patterson featured for over an hour for the Under-21’s in midweek on his recovery from injury, but he’s still not ready for a first-team return which will see Seamus Coleman continue at right-back. While Vitalii Mykolenko should also continue on the left.
Michael Keane got a shock start against Arsenal but the experiment failed with a 4-0 defeat, and Dyche will surely look to bring Conor Coady back into the mix alongside James Tarkowski for this game.
In midfield Dyche needs to find a way to get more goals, and that could lead to a more attacking shape that he knows well – the 4-4-2.
Idrissa Gueye has conceded a penalty and then been robbed of possession leading to a goal in each of the last two games, so he is due a little run out of the side which can help in the change of system.
Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana have been two of the better performers in central midfield so could form a solid duo together with energy, bite and a goal threat.
Alex Iwobi would continue in a wide role but slightly more narrow to help defensively, while Dwight McNeil can continue on the left in a role similar to the one he took up for Burnley under Dyche last season.
In attack Neal Maupay remains the best of a bad bunch with Dominic Calvert-Lewin unlikely to feature with his hamstring problem, but he is likely to be of more use in a front two.
That would allow Dyche to finally bring Demarai Gray into his starting lineup for the first time since his arrival, and put him in a role where he can roam and use his dribbling ability to give the team a greater goal threat.
Everton predicted XI v Nottingham Forest: Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Doucoure, Onana, McNeil; Gray, Maupay.