Everton vs Crystal Palace: Predicted Line-Up | Gbamin Returns!

The international break probably came at the perfect time for Everton after three consecutive defeats.

But now the Blues are back – and in type of fixture that has caused them a lot of problems this season: a bottom half team at home.

Indeed, Everton have lost five of the seven games against teams in the bottom half (heading into this weekend).

So how will Carlo set up the Blues to get a much-needed three points here?

Who’s Out?

Unfortunately, the injury list hasn’t gotten much shorter over the break, with Bernard having also joined Abdoulaye Doucoure, Fabian Delph and Jordan Pickford on the sidelines.

But there are a few returning players and one notable name in particular: a certain Jean-Philippe Gbamin no less!

Although the “he’ll be like a new signing” is a massive football cliché, it’s hard to deny that this isn’t the case with Gbamin, who played just 135 minutes before picking up a serious thigh injury in training followed by a cruel Achilles injury as he was just about to return. Those injuries have kept the midfielder out for over 18 months, but Carlo has said he is available for Palace.

In more good news, Robin Olsen is also fit to return between the sticks, while James Rodriguez is also fit having not played since the Derby.

Tactics and Formation

The Blues will probably return to a 4-3-3 set up with the front three essentially picking itself now that James is fit again.

Would also expect a similar midfield setup to that of our last game, while Mason Holgate should provide better defensive cover at right-back if James is in front of him, while two of three from Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey will play at centre-back with Lucas Digne at left-back.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Robin Olsen – 9/10

Young Virginia put in a great performance against City, but he’s still very inexperienced and it seems a wiser move to bring in a safe pair of hands in Olsen and let Virginia bank his positive experience for now.

Mason Holgate – 8/10

Lucas Digne – 10/10

Michael Keane – 7/10

Could also be Yerry.

Ben Godfrey – 7/10

Allan – 9/10

Andre Gomes – 8/10

Gylfi Sigurdsson – 8/10

James Rodriguez – 8/10

Could return to the side to help aid Mason Holgate down the right.

Richarlison – 10/10

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 10/10

Bench

Joao Virginia

Yerry Mina

Seamus Coleman

Niels Nkounkou

Tom Davies

Tyler Onyango

Jean-Philippe Gbamin

Alex Iwobi

Joshua King