Projected XI: Everton vs Huddersfield Town

Everton welcome Huddersfield Town to Goodison Park tomorrow, and here’s some breaking news: the Terriers are bad. Their -8 goal differential is dead last in the league, and they’d be dead last in the table, too, were it not for West Ham’s incompetence.

The Blues have issues of their own, though, and can’t get complacent. Three points before the break would be ideal. How will they line up?

Tactics and Formation

With the rash of injuries facing Everton, the lingering suspension of Richarlison, and the remaining impact of a midweek game, Marco Silva could opt to do something weird in Everton’s last match before the international break. We couldn’t really blame him at this point, given the players who look to be out for this match.

But, we think he’ll stick as close to his normal tactics as possible, even if it requires continuing to rely on non-first-choice players to take up key roles.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Jordan Pickford - 10/10

Leighton Baines - 7/10

Lucas Digne put in a good performance against Rotherham midweek, and he’s likely to start getting more chances in the first XI after the international break. But given Huddersfield’s overall lack of attacking threat, we think the more creatively capable Baines gets the nod.

Mason Holgate - 10/10

Kurt Zouma - 10/10

Everton’s left with no choice but the Holgate/Zouma pairing with Yerry Mina, Phil Jagielka, and Michael Keane all injured. The international break can’t come fast enough.

Seamus Coleman - 10/10

Tom Davies - 9/10

Idrissa Gueye is not healthy, so it’s hard to see anybody but Tom taking this spot.

Morgan Schneiderlin - 9/10

Especially with Gana out, if Morgan’s healthy, he’ll start.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - 10/10

Theo Walcott - 10/10

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 9/10

With Sandro gone, Ademola Lookman coming off an injury, Richarlison suspended, and Bernard unavailable, it’s hard to see anybody other than DCL starting on the wing.

Cenk Tosun - 10/10

Bench

Maarten Stekelenburg

Lucas Digne

Matthew Pennington

Kieran Dowell

Jonjoe Kenny

Oumar Niasse

Ademola Lookman - Declared fit by Marco Silva, Ade is the last remaining healthy body available for selection, despite his poor attitude. He somehow remained at the club through the transfer deadline so look for Lookman to play more moving forward.

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There are only so many options available, but what changes would you make tomorrow? Should Lookman start? Digne? Let us know in the comments below.