Everton midfielders and full-backs under threat as Dyche faces big striker call
After suffering a fourth consecutive home defeat on Saturday, with Luton Town securing a 2-1 victory – their first ever in the Premier League – could Everton manager Sean Dyche be tempted into ringing the changes for the visit of Bournemouth?
The Blues’ 1-0 victory over the Cherries on May 28, a result that ensured they avoided a first relegation in 72 years by a single goal, remains the last points Dyche’s side have secured at Goodison Park and the hosts will be desperate to try and get back to winning ways in their final fixture before the next international break and a return to action against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby October 21.
You’d imagine that James Tarkowski – captaining the side in Seamus Coleman’s absence – and Jarrad Branthwaite would retain the two centre-back berths ahead of Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey but both full-backs Ashley Young and Vitalii Mykolenko could come under pressure after their displays against the Hatters.
Fingers will be pointed at Young for enabling Luton captain Tom Lockyer to open the scoring, instead of clearing his lines while Mykolenko left Carlton Morris wide open at the back post for the second goal rather than keeping tabs on the centre-forward.
Nathan Patterson, who replaced Young in the second half, could come in at right-back, ensuring that the 38-year-old either reverts to the other side of defence with Godfrey also an alternative candidate.
In midfield, there is sure to be a debate over whether James Garner – who played centrally at Aston Villa and moved there in the second half against Luton – is deployed there in his favourite position. If he is then either Idrissa Gueye – who went off at the break against the Hatters – or Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was also hooked in the second half, might make way with Amadou Onana appearing to have the most-secure position right now in that area of the pitch.
