Everton confirmed XI v Aston Villa – Abdoulaye Doucoure decision made
Sean Dyche has named his Everton XI as they welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon (14 January) in the Premier League.
Jordan Pickford starts in goal, as expected, having been replaced by Joao Virginia for Everton’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. The Portuguese was awarded Man of the Match for his heroics, as per FotMob, but is still benched.
Seamus Coleman starts alongside James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, with Vitalii Mykolenko deployed in his usual left-back position to combat the pace of Unai Emery’s quick wingers.
Similar to his defence, Dyche names an unchanged midfield duo of Amadou Onana and James Garner. However, Abdoulaye Doucoure returns from an injury and is fit enough to start.
Following an injury against Crystal Palace, Dwight McNeil is only fit enough to make the bench. So Jack Harrison moves out to the right wing, with Arnaut Danjuma on the opposite flank.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is placed at striker again, with his red card in the FA Cup rescinded in time for him to be available against Villa.
Everton took to Twitter to share their lineup for the game.
On paper
Looking at the previous 10 fixtures, signs point towards a victory for the Villans. Despite the most recent fixture going the Toffees’ way, with a 2-1 win in the EFL Cup, Villa have won seven of the last 10 games.
Two of the results have been draws, with Everton’s EFL Cup win in September earlier this season their only in the previous 10. But anything could happen at Goodison Park.
Dyche will be hoping that his players can get back to the winning form that saw them take 12 points from Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Burnley in consecutive matches before a torrid run.
A win would take the Toffees three points above 18th-place Luton Town, who continue to breathe down their neck from the relegation zone.
Although it is mathematically possible for Villa to top the Premier League by the end of play today, it would take a special performance, and nine goals, to topple first-place Liverpool. However, they could cement their spot in the top four before Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Manchester United.
In other Everton news, a journalist says one Toffees player should be “thankful” after what was said in public this week.