Our Everton writers select their line-ups for today’s Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace
Everton’s pursuit for a Premier League win resumes on Saturday. The Blues are back in action against Crystal Palace, hoping to build on
their point at Leicester City last weekend.
The Toffees have had a fantastic week thus far, with word earlier this week that an agreement had been struck to sell the club to The
Friedkin Group.
The news brought much relief to Goodison Park, and a win would top off a positive few days. However, a loss would just increase the
pressure on the players and manager Sean Dyche. Here’s how some of our writers believe the Blues should prepare for a crucial game.
Sean Dyche thinks Jarrad Branthwaite is “certainly in the hat” to start against Crystal Palace as Everton look for their first Premier League
victory of the season, and if that’s the case, it’s clearly time to bring him on and get ‘The Carlisle Kaiser’ on the team sheet. Branthwaite
hasn’t played for the Blues’ senior side in 133 days, following a controversial last-gasp defeat to title-chasing Arsenal on the final day of
last season due to what Dyche initially described as “a minor groin issue,” but after playing the full 90 minutes for the Under-21s last
Sunday as they defeated their Sunderland counterparts 4-3 in Southport, the club’s breakout star of 2023/24 appears set to make his big
return.With Branthwaite dominating their defence, only the Gunners preserved more Premier League clean sheets than Everton last
season, but with 14 goals conceded in five games, his big return can’t come soon enough. Hopefully Vitalii Mykolenko, another of the
previous campaign’s success stories, is well enough to return, and with the abundance of alternatives in the engine room compared to the
moveable feast at right-back, I’d keep James Garner on the opposite wing, as he was at Leicester City.Idrissa Gueye’s return from
compassionate leave forces Dyche to make a big decision in central midfield, but after their encouraging first outing together in those
roles in difficult conditions at the King Power Stadium, I’d keep the fledgling partnership of Abdoulaye Doucoure and deadline-day loan
signing Orel Mangala because, unlike in previous matches, they appeared to have a better balance together.
Another new face I’d keep is Jesper Lindstrom, who, despite missing a number of inviting chances in the last two games he’s started, is
still getting into dangerous positions and will hopefully start converting them soon, while the team appeared to lose their out ball when he
was substituted against the Foxes.My squad (4-5-1): Pickford; Garner, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil,
Lindstrom, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
I would not start Jarrad Branthwaite today. I know that will seem insane to many, and I am probably in the minority on this. I understand that this is a crucial game, and a win is absolutely needed. And, while I don’t believe Branthwaite’s return will fix all of Everton’s problems this season, he will certainly help.
However, given his importance, I believe it may be worthwhile to wait another week. He has been out for a long time. Yes, he has been working on a rehabilitation schedule for some time, but he has only played one match since May. I went to that game in Southport last week, and there was a lot to enjoy. He dominated the air and, by the end of the game, was winning foot races with the attackers. He did start gingerly and appeared to be feeling his way back into it. This match is a significant improvement over the previous 90 minutes, and I don’t want to let him down by returning too soon.
This choice is also in part owing to one of his opponents today, Eberechi Eze. Eze is one of the few guys I witnessed cause problems for Branthwaite last season. In the 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park, Branthwaite conceded one penalty and came close to another. With Everton still susceptible at full back and looking for consistency in centre midfield, Branthwaite doesn’t need Eze tearing at him in his debut game while he works on his fitness. Michael Keane reserves his seat for me.
In front of the centre backs, I’d want to see Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure revive the relationship that I thought had potential at Leicester City. They provided a defensive screen, and Mangala was effective at maintaining possession and passing it to the wide players. Idrissa Gueye starts with them, and while it may appear to be a cautious midfield, the goal is to make Everton sturdy in the middle, allowing their attackers more freedom. Dwight McNeil wide left, Iliman Ndiaye in the middle, and Jesper Lindstrom on the right. Get them sprinting at the Palace. Lindstrom’s end product has been lacking in recent games, but I believe it will improve, and his pace is crucial – the game altered last week when he came off.
My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner; Mangala, Gueye; McNeil, Ndiaye, Lindstrom; Calvert-Lewin
Paul Wheelock – Two changes for a must-win match
What a difference ten days makes. After leaving Goodison Park after the dismal Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat to Southampton with no rush to return – which should never happen in the club’s last season – excitement has returned ahead of today’s visit from Crystal Palace.
The first 60 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Leicester City hinted at better days ahead, but it was this week’s announcement that The Friedkin Group had agreed to a purchase deal with wantaway owner Farhad Moshiri that truly raised morale. While there is still work to be done before the transaction is finalized, a cloud has lifted over the supporters.
And, while Sean Dyche and his players will undoubtedly be wondering what their futures hold under the probable new American owners, they should also be feeling better about themselves after months and months of off-field turmoil.
Their aim now is to ensure that a week full of promise continues with a long-awaited first Premier League triumph.
For a long time, it appeared like it would happen at the King Power Stadium, as Dyche’s side put on a lively performance in dreadful conditions, aided by the return of key players from injury and illness, until Leicester made a late comeback.
The front four played well together, and Abdoulaye Doucoure and Oriel Mangala combined effectively, so I wouldn’t have to make any changes in midfield or attack.
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