Everton at Chelsea: Predicted Line-Up | Midfield Re-Shuffle?

This has the feeling of a Sliding Doors moment for Everton.

A win would put Everton right in the driving seat for a potential top four finish and while a defeat wouldn’t end the Blues’ push for the Champions League, it will feel more like a pipedream than a probability.

So, how will Carlo Ancelotti line up his side for this key game?

Who’s Out?

Well, there’s no real news here.

Definitely out again are the perennial absentees: Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Fabian Delph with Yerry Mina also still recovering from a calf ailment.

James Rodriguez, Tom Davies, Robin Olsen and Seamus Coleman all missed the midweek win at West Bromwich Albion and remain doubts.

Tactics and Formation

Carlo’s latest tactical evolution has seen the Blues line-up in varying forms of 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 (aka 4-4-2 diamond) in recent weeks and it seems like that the latter will be used here.

Allan and Gylfi Sigurdsson should return to the starting line-up after being rested against West Brom. If available, Tom Davies will hopefully return to the Everton midfield for Andre Gomes who has struggled for form. Abdoulaye Doucoure hobbled off on Thursday but it didn’t look too serious.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Jordan Pickford – 9/10

Mason Holgate – 8/10

Lucas Digne – 9/10

Michael Keane – 9/10

Ben Godfrey – 8/10

Allan – 8/10

Tom Davies – 8/10

If he’s fit, he should start. Big “if”, though.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 9/10

Gylfi Sigurdsson – 7/10

Richarlison – 10/10

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 7/10

Bench

Robin Olsen

Joao Virginia

Seamus Coleman

Niels Nkounkou

Tyler Onyango

Andre Gomes

Bernard

James Rodriguez

Joshua King