Everton are back to home comforts this weekend as they host Chelsea in Saturday afternoon’s early fixture. It’ll be fifth place taking on sixth place with both teams on ten points and the Toffees ahead on goal difference.
The Blues have had a relatively easy start to the season and have stayed unbeaten through that sequence, though they will be ruing not being even further up the table after a disappointing defensive showing saw them draw away at Hull City last weekend.
Chelsea for their part have been mercurial, dominant at home but shaky on the road. The attacking trio of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro have looked unstoppable and the Toffees will have to ensure they break up any sort of coordination between them.
Who’s Out?
Key defender Jarrad Branthwaite picked up a dead leg early in the game at Hull lined up on the left side of defence and will be a late fitness test. Vitaliy Mykolenko missed that game after picking up an injury with Ukraine during the extended international break but has resumed training. Summer signing Christian Nørgaard has resumed training but David Moyes seemed skeptical about his chances of starting.
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Opponents Chelsea are mostly at full strength, but have lost captain Reece James who underwent minor surgery after picking up a knee inquiry in training. Their only other absentee is Jamie Gittens.
Everton squad available vs Chelsea
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Branthwaite (TRAINING), Keane, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Mykolenko (TRAINING), Maitland-Niles
Midfielders: Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall, Garner, Hackney, Nørgaard (TRAINING), Röhl (INJURED)
Wingers: Alcaraz, Dibling, George, Johnson, Grealish.
Strikers: Barry.
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stay in the 4-1-4-1 that we’ve seen so far, but how long will David Moyes keep Tyrique George and Hayden Hackney on the bench?
Starting XI
Jordan Pickford
Vitaliy Mykolenko – Moyes will trot him out even if he’s half-fit
Jarrad Branthwaite – As he goes Everton’s defence goes
James Tarkowski
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
James Garner
Jack Grealish
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Even when only partly-involved, his goal-threat is unmistakable and he will want to punish Chelsea, his former side
Harrison Armstrong
Brennan Johnson – Moyes simply will not move George above him in the pecking order
Thierno Barry
Bench
Mark Travers
Michael Keane
Jake O’Brien
Hayden Hackney – Surely he’ll supplant Armstrong sooner than later?
Christian Nørgaard
Tyrique George
Charly Alcaraz
Tyler Dibling
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With Nørgaard fit again, there will be no room for any youngsters on the bench today.