Everton take on Aston Villa this weekend as the Premier League returns to action, here’s all the team news and our predicted line-up.
The Premier League returns for Everton on Sunday as they take on a title-challenging Aston Villa side. It’s a must-win for Sean Dyche and his blues with a current losing streak of four needing to be snapped.
It’s expected to be a tough outing for the Toffees if the first fixture between the pair is anything to go off – Villa walked out 4-0 winners.
But confidence can be taken for Dyche from the fact that his side responded to that by knocking Villa out of the Carabao Cup.
Everton haven’t won a game however since mid-December – which also happens to be the last time Abdoulaye Doucoure played and so his return could be the boost the Toffees need to pick up the points here.
Here’s the team news ahead of Everton vs Aston Villa.
Everton team news
Everton are set to benefit from a massive returning figure this weekend with Dyche quoted by club media as being “hopeful” about Doucoure returning on Sunday. He will be joined in fitness by Seamus Coleman according to Dyche.
Dwight McNeil on the other hand won’t be playing as he recovers from an injury sustained last week, with his replacement an interesting discussion.
Ashley Young and Dele Alli will both also miss out through injury.
Idrissa Gueye is away with Senegal at AFCON and so won’t be featuring here. However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s red card being overturned means he will be free to play.
So with the team news in mind, here is our predicted line-up.
Everton predicted XI to face Aston Villa
Dyche no doubt will name a strong line-up to take on one of the league’s premier sides this campaign. This begins in goal with Jordan Pickford getting the nod as per usual.
In defence, Seamus Coleman and Vitaliy Mykolenko start at right and left back respectively. They are then joined by the solid partnership of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite at centre-half.
The midfield will consist of Andre Gomes and Amadou Onana with James Garner probably unfortunate to miss out – although he could just as easily play.
Out on the right, Jack Harrison is a shoo-in then on the left we’ve gone with Arnaut Danjuma to start in place of McNeil, following Dyche’s words on him yesterday.
Behind the striker, the returning Doucoure starts with the aim of returning Everton to the form they were in a month ago.
Up-front, Calvert-Lewin should start fresh off his red card being revoked.
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