Everton vs Man City: Predicted Line-Up | A Welcome Allan Return

Everton beat the best and lose to trash. So, Everton will surely pick up six points from Manchester City and Liverpool, right?
Or are the latter also trash now?

After being outclassed by Fulham, it’s hard to see it happening, so how will Don Carlo set us up against a record-breaking Pep Guardiola side that have won their last 16 matches in a row?

Who’s Out?

The good news is that this is the shortest injury list in a long, long time with only Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out for this one.

Jordan Pickford and Allan are available again, but it remains to be seen if they’re deemed fit enough to start. James Rodriguez has, as always, a knock, but it shouldn’t rule him out here.

Tactics and Formation

Everton found a winning formula with 4-2-3-1 setup with sitting full-backs against good sides in December, so that will surely be a consideration for Carlo – although that would mean leaving Lucas Digne in a more isolated role on the wing. Ben Godfrey at right back might be a way of accommodating the best of both worlds.

The Blues setup in a 4-3-3 against Fulham and with Allan available again, that could again be the preferred option here, trying to crowd the middle against a very good City side that will be missing Ilkay Gundogan but might have Kevin De Bruyne back.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Jordan Pickford – 7/10

Ben Godfrey – 7/10

One of Godfrey, Holgate and Coleman at right-back. But with Holgate having had an awful game against Fulham, Godfrey seems like the best bet in order to provide some defensive sturdiness.

Lucas Digne – 9/10

Michael Keane – 9/10

Yerry Mina – 8/10

Coincidence, or is there something to this?

Allan – 6/10

Will ultimately come down to fitness, but if Carlo thinks he can get 60 minutes out of the Brazilian, he will likely call upon his (much needed) stewardship.

Tom Davies – 7/10

Provides more legs and defensive cover than Gylfi Sigurdsson or Andre Gomes.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 10/10

Joshua King – 7/10

Ready for his first start? Pace and directness will be key for an Everton side that will play on the counter here, and he provides both. Plus the false nine simply doesn’t work against teams with good defences.

James Rodriguez – 7/10

Wouldn’t be too surprised to see Alex Iwobi start ahead of James here for his defensive support, but James’ range of incisive passing simply can’t be replaced.

Richarlison – 10/10

Bench

Robin Olsen

Seamus Coleman

Mason Holgate

Niels Nkounkou

Fabian Delph

Andre Gomes

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Bernard

Alex Iwobi