Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur: Projected XI

Everton play host to a top six time on Sunday for the first time this season when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Goodison Park. Yet again, the match represents an opportunity to truly take stock of how well the Blues stack up against their upper-echelon peers. How will Marco Silva line Everton up?

Tactics and Formation

Last week’s 5-4-1 against Manchester City was born more out of necessity than any real desire to change things up tactically. We’re relatively confident that Idrissa Gueye will return in this match, and that he’ll bring a return to the 4-3-3 with him.

With Tottenham so starved for central midfielders (due to both injury and questionable silence during the summer transfer window), it’ll be a huge match for Gana, Andre Gomes, and Gylfi Sigurdsson. If they can dominate the match — as they should against a depleted Spurs midfield — it should create opportunities for what we believe will be a new-look front three.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Jordan Pickford - 10/10

Lucas Digne - 10/10

Michael Keane - 10/10

Kurt Zouma - 7/10

Yerry Mina has had a few consecutive rough matches. We aren’t concerned about him in the long term, but Zouma has been better of late. With a dangerous Spurs attack coming to Goodison Park, Silva needs his best defense on the pitch

Seamus Coleman - 10/10

Idrissa Gueye - 8/10

The only doubt regarding Gana remains his fitness. If he’s fit, he starts.

Andre Gomes - 10/10

Gylfi Sigurdsson - 10/10

Ademola Lookman - 6/10

The young English winger had another impressive performance off the bench, and the continued struggles of Theo Walcott have left the door open for Lookman to get another start.

Does Silva trust him to get it right against a strong opponent, though? We think so, but anything could happen.

Richarlison - 10/10

At some point in this stretch, Richarlison is going to get a rest. It isn’t going to be against Spurs, though.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 7/10

In nine home league matches, Manchester City has conceded four non-penalty goals. One of those belongs to DCL, who was handed something of a surprise start against the defending champions last week.

The Toffees have only five goals in their last six matches, so we think Silva will be open to making a change up top. With three league goals in only 476 minutes of play, Calvert-Lewin has earned his chance.

Bench

Maarten Stekelenburg

Yerry Mina

Leighton Baines

Tom Davies

Bernard

Cenk Tosun

Theo Walcott

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What kind of lineup would you use, Blues? Let us know in the comments below.