Prince Rupert's Tower
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Everton must return to winning ways

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Victor Anichebe of Everton celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Carling Cup second round match between Everton and Sheffield United at Goodison Park on August 24, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Victor Anichebe of Everton celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Carling Cup second round match between Everton and Sheffield United at Goodison Park on August 24, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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So after the predictably deflating defeat at Bournemouth, Everton next take on newly promoted Sheffield United at Goodison Park this Saturday.

It’s getting hard to feel positive or expectant these days about Everton matches as the team seem so incurably inconsistent and frustrating.

One week it seems like there is evidence of real improvement and the next it’s back down to earth after another demoralising loss, usually away from home.

Well at least the Blues are back at the grand old lady and they simply must make it count and claim all three points this weekend.

Given the relative status and position of the two sides, the Toffees should start the game on Saturday as favourites.

But the Yorkshire club have begun their latest Premier League adventure decently despite failing to win in the Premier League although they did gain a well-earned point at Chelsea.

It’s probably almost inevitable that they will struggle to stay up but promoted sides can be dangerous, especially early on in the season. Everton will have to be on their guard and certainly not take this game as a given.

That’s especially true after the poverty of the Blues performance at Bournemouth. If they replicate that form it might be a long afternoon ahead.

However as we know playing at Goodison usually brings out a different team. At home, the side exhibits energy, determination and attacking flair, all things missing once again last Sunday.

The big questions surround who will start for the home team on Saturday.

Last weekend Marco Silva decided to go with Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front instead of new signing Moise Kean, despite the latter starting in the win over Wolves before the international break.

This change didn’t bring the result intended. Although to be fair to him Calvert-Lewin worked hard and did score, Everton lacked the drive and dynamism I think Kean would have given.

I would like to see Kean return to the team to start up front. And I’d also like to see Alex Iwobi given a chance to play behind the front man in a more central position instead of Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Iwobi’s best position might be in that central role where he can really drive at the heart of the opposition defence. In his place on the left, perhaps Bernard could return to start.

Whoever is to play though, the Blues must start with the energy and tempo to take control of the match early on.

The other change Silva made last time was forced on him through injury as Andre Gomes wasn’t able to resume his embryonic midfield partnership with Fabian Delph and Morgan Schniederlin came into the team.

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However perhaps the biggest headache for the manager and Blues fans is the defence. Everton have returned to the kind of erratic defending that characterised their performances at this stage last season.

In a game at about this time a year ago, the Toffees hosted Huddersfield Town, a team a bit like Sheffield United, and they gained a point at Goodison by exploiting the Blues set-piece vulnerability.

Everton must put these defensive errors behind them, not just in this match but for the duration of the season if they are to make any consistent progress.