Sean Dyche to axe Seamus Coleman, Abdoulaye Doucoure decision made in three changes – Predicted Everton XI v Aston Villa
Sean Dyche could be set to make three changes to his Everton XI as they prepare to take on Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Toffees will be looking to claim their first league win in four games and their first in six in all competitions when they host Unai Emery’s in-form team at Goodison Park on Sunday (14 January).
Everton will hopefully be refreshed heading into the encounter having been handed a ten-day break from their 0-0 FA Cup draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (4 January) but now face two games in three days with a replay expected at Goodison Park (17 January).
However, Dyche won’t be resting on his laurels for a game the Toffees desperately need to win and he could be set to make three changes, one of which could see fan favourite Seamus Coleman axed for Nathan Patterson.
Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly get the nod in goal as the number one at the club having been handed a rest for the FA Cup clash at Selhurst Park with Joao Virginia enjoying a great first appearance of the season in South London.
In defence, Dyche will likely stick with the same defence he started against Crystal Palace but Coleman could give way to Patterson whose youthful exuberance could prove useful against the Villans.
Also, the senior Toffees defender failed to convince in the FA Cup, failing to attempt any ground duels, completing just 57 per cent of his passes and completed just one of his 11 long ball attempts (SofaScore) such wastefulness in possession and lack of decisiveness in defence could yet prove costly against Emery’s team.
Patterson will likely form a defensive line-up with James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaliy Mykolenko who all proved consummately solid against the Eagles last time out.
In midfield, Dyche will likely stick with Amadou Onana and James Garner as his midfield pivot. With Idrissa Gueye at AFCON for Senegal, both Onana and Garner will be trusted to hold down the midfield in his absence and at the expense of Andre Gomes who should continue to be an influential presence from the bench.
It’s in attack where Everton fans could see notable changes and there’s a chance Abdoulaye Doucoure could return to the Everton fold against the Villans.
According to Injury Expert Ben Dinnery (10 January), the Malian international is likely to return on Sunday having been out with a thing injury so Dyche could decide to start him in a crucial encounter at Goodison despite missing the last five games.
Doucoure has proven a vital component in Dyche’s team, registering six goals and one assist from 17 Premier League games but should replace Dwight McNeil who came off with a worrying injury at Selhurst Park and looks to be “Ruled out” of action on Sunday, according to Dinnery.
Arnaut Danjuma, who’s been linked with a move away this month, should keep his place given Dyche’s desperately weakened attacking weaponry in McNeil’s absence and is expected to line up alongside Doucoure and Jack Harrison behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who thankfully escaped a ban (Paul Joyce, 9 January) after his controversial sending-off against Palace.
In other Everton news, Real Madrid want to sign one Goodison Park fan-favourite this summer, and manager Carlo Ancelotti has received rave reviews from scouts already.