Sean Dyche has Amadou Onana decision to make for Everton v Liverpool
Sean Dyche has a big decision to make about Everton midfielder Amadou Onana ahead of the Merseyside derby on Wednesday (24 April).
Onana was left on the bench during the Toffees’ 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday (21 April), as Everton moved five points clear of the relegation zone.
That was a second straight home victory for Dyche’s side, after they also managed to beat Burnley at Goodison Park earlier this month.
There was one thing in common between both of those Everton victories too and it was that Onana played no role in either match.
Amadou Onana should be left on the bench for Everton v Liverpool
Everton have not had the best of fortunes when Onana has been on the pitch recently, losing 6-0 at Chelsea in his last appearance.
Onana also went off with Everton 1-0 down at Newcastle United before the Blues found a late equaliser at St. James’ Park, just days after he started in a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old played 90 minutes in Everton’s two defeats prior to March’s international break, but then starred for Belgium in their 2-2 draw with England at Wembley, raising an important point that Dyche should consider.
Around a better group of players with more individual quality, Onana thrives more, and with Everton scrapping against relegation, the team setup is not suited to his style of play, which revolves around excellent close control and showcasing a wide variety of passes.
This is not the first time that Everton’s precarious situation has rubbed off on a player of obvious talent recently, as Anthony Gordon has shown what he is capable of at Newcastle United after struggling at times in the blue of Everton, with 18 goal involvements in the Premier League this season as part of a better group of players.
Everton’s 2-0 win over Forest at the weekend saw Idrissa Gueye play extremely well, scoring the opening goal before getting through a tiring amount of running to keep the Tricky Trees at bay.
With James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure too, that trio are more suited to a game plan that will revolve around limited possession and hard work, while Onana can often appear laboured and slightly too laidback.
Liverpool are set to dominate possession and have territorial advantage at Goodison Park, meaning Onana will not be able to play the type of game he desires, so it would be best for Dyche to leave the midfielder on the bench again.
In other Everton news, Jarrad Branthwaite’s valuation has plummeted according to an ex-club scout.
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