Everton vs Tottenham: Predicted Line-Up | Ancelotti’s options limited upfront

The games are coming thick and fast.

Everton’s now attention turns to the FA Cup, with an inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur side visiting Goodison Park with a quarter-final place at stake.

You probably won’t find two teams more desperate for a trophy in England, with Everton having not enjoyed silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 1995, while Spurs only trophies since then have been League Cups in 1999 and 2008.

So how will Everton line-up for this one?

Who’s Out?

The injury cloud is clearing. Allan won’t be ready for this game, but he’s expected to return for Sunday’s home clash against Fulham.

Carlo Ancelotti will monitor James Rodriguez and Jordan Pickford in training before making a call on their fitness.

The only other players missing are Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Joshua King, who is cup-tied.

Tactics and Formation

Carlo changed the setup on Saturday, lining up with a 4-4-2 diamond. However, this provided no attacking threat down the right hand side with Mason Holgate at fullback, so we should expect to see Alex Iwobi return to the team here in more of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

There’s also questions with who’ll line-up in defence, with Lucas Digne at left-back the surest thing to a certainty. With lots of games coming up, we might expect to see some more rotation, with Yerry Mina and Seamus Coleman potentially coming in.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Robin Olsen – 7/10

Could be Pickford, but given the Englishman’s fitness uncertainty, it may be better to save him for Sunday.

Seamus Coleman – 7/10

May replace Holgate in order to provide more attacking threat down the right.

Lucas Digne – 9/10

Ben Godfrey – 7/10

Yerry Mina – 7/10

Could replace Keane at centre-back, although the two big men may line-up together to give Godfrey a break.

Tom Davies – 7/10

Played well at the weekend and could start here.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 10/10

Richarlison – 10/10

Gylfi Sigurdsson – 7/10

Will largely depend on James’ fitness. The Colombian may start if judged fit, but he could also be left on the bench to be used in case of emergency.

Alex Iwobi – 7/10

An attacking threat down the right was missing at the weekend, so we should see Iwobi return here.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 10/10

Bench

Jordan Pickford

Joao Virginia

Mason Holgate

Niels Nkounkou

Michael Keane

Fabian Delph

Andre Gomes

Bernard

James Rodriguez