Anthony Onifade

Thu 21 December 2023 8:36, UK Updated Thu 21 December 2023 9:11, UK

Sean Dyche could be set to make two changes to his Everton team when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 23 December.

On the hunt for a fifth successive Premier League victory, Everton travel to North London to meet Ange Postecoglou’s resurgent team flying high with two consecutive wins after a recent dip in form.

Dyche’s men enter the clash off some good league form as well with four wins from four but underwent a disappointing EFL Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out exit to Fulham on Tuesday (19 December) which could force him into two key changes.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison face the danger of losing their spots after their abject performances in midweek and could well be replaced by Beto and Arnaut Danjuma after both players made telling impressions when coming on against the Cottagers, with the former grabbing a crucial equaliser late on.

In goal, Jordan Pickford, as always, will likely start between the sticks after an eventful showing against Fulham and he amongst his defenders will be disappointed at the manner in which they conceded the opener on Tuesday after four straight clean sheets.

In defence, Dyche may well be tempted to revert to a back-five again as he did in the 2-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League last weekend (16 December) which could see Michael Keane – despite his own goal in midweek – keep his place alongside James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.

The latter was particularly impressive on Tuesday and will be coming up against an interested suitor in his services in Postecoglou’s men [Sky Sports, 7 December].

Branthwaite played an unfamiliar role at left-back after returning from suspension but the young Englishman simply did not look out of place as he won 100 per cent of his aerial duels, 80 per cent of his ground duels, registered three clearances and two crucial interceptions [SofaScore] and kept Harry Wilson quiet all evening.

Dyche will certainly be calling for a solid and rigid foundation in North London but will also want his wing-backs to carry a threat on the flank and could call upon Nathan Patterson and Dwight McNeil again as he did against Burnley.

Ashley Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko are both carrying injuries and have missed the last two games and there remains an unlikeliness that they will return for Saturday’s clash [Ben Dinnery, 20 December].

In midfield, Dyche could call upon fringe player Danjuma after an impressive cameo against Fulham injecting much-needed pace, dynamism and final third craft that should worry his former team and spur him on to prove a point after his failed loan move at Tottenham last season.

The Villarreal loanee, who has only started three league games this season, might replace Harrison and start on the left flank after the Leeds United loanee’s woeful display against Fulham.

Harrison was nowhere to be seen throughout the game for Everton while his wing partner McNeil conjured up chances at the other end.

Went close just after half-time with a rasping shot after some great individual skill but that was about it from Harrison as he completed just 16 per cent of his dribbles, registered one key pass, won just 30 per cent of his ground duels picked up the joint-worst score [SofaScore] of any player to start the clash on Tuesday at 6.4/10.

At the heart of midfield, Dyche could stick with Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye despite their penalty misses against Fulham.

Apart from that, the Goodison Park duo provided a solid base in midfield and could carry that forward against Postecoglou’s men in what will be an intense and pivotal game for both players.

Abdoulaye Doucoure, along with Young and Mykolenko has missed the last two games and it appears he may not be available for Saturday with his status at 25 per cent, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery [21 December].

In attack, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be axed after another abject display against Marco Silva’s side where he also picked up the worst score of any player to start the game at 6.4/10.

Won just one of his seven aerial duels in a dreadful 14 per cent success rate, and won just two of his ground duels whilst also losing 100 per cent of his three dribble attempts before he was deservedly hooked off for Beto.

The Portuguese forward showed more in half an hour than Calvert-Lewin did in an hour, grabbing the all-important equaliser and his energy and confidence could be useful at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Postecoglou’s Tottenham are a difficult component to deal with given the tremendous flexibility and fluidity the squad exerts in and out of possession which means Dyche is in for arguably his toughest test in recent weeks.

In other Everton news, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker obsessed over Everton with a league title shout.