Everton predicted XI vs West Ham… Sean Dyche turns to £15m player, 26-year-old dropped
Everton play host to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon at Goodison Park in what promises to be a raucous atmosphere.
It doesn’t take much for The Toffees faithful to produce a vociferous noise and they’re expected to be in full voice once again this weekend following their four-point boost.
Having moved from 17th to 15th in the Premier League table, Sean Dyche‘s side now have breathing room on the drop zone.
The Merseysiders sit five points above 18th-placed Luton Town and will be eager to extend that gap against The Hammers.
There will be a familiar face in the opposition dugout, with former Everton boss David Moyes set to return to Goodison.
Dyche has to find a way to get his side back into the win column and scoring goals again, so with that said, the 52-year-old must get his team selection right.
The Everton boss is expected to make one change following the score draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.
Jordan Pickford will, of course, retain his place in the starting line-up. Only Manchester City’s Ederson has managed more clean sheets than the England number one.
The back four is likely to remain unchanged, with James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite continuing their solid partnership.
Ben Godfrey is expected to make his seventh start of the season at right-back whilst Vitaliy Mykolenko assumes his position on the left.
Moving into midfield, the settled pairing of Idrissa Gueye and James Garner will remain, though, we could see some change out wide.
Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil have both struggled to contribute in the attacking phase this term, so perhaps young Lewis Dobbin could be given a chance from the start.
Dobbin has made one league start this term in the defeat to Wolves back in August but after a number of cameos in recent weeks, he could be ready to make an impact from the first whistle – although we still think he’s most likely to feature from the bench.
In attack is where we’ve opted to make the big call. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t scored since October and will be bereft of confidence in front of goal.
That’s where £15m summer signing Youssef Chermiti enters the equation. Having netted twice in an under-21 fixture earlier this week, the young forward will be itching to make an impression on Dyche.
Capped at youth level by Portugal, the 2004-born is clearly a talented player but hasn’t really been given a sniff this season.
Abdoulaye Doucoure will retain his place just behind Chermiti.
Everton predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Garner, McNeil; Doucoure; Chermiti.
