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Predicted line-up Aston Villa v Everton

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Allan of Everton controls the ball under pressure from Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on May 01, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Allan of Everton controls the ball under pressure from Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on May 01, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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Everton face Aston Villa tonight as they enter a congested final run-in of Premier League fixtures so who do we think will line up tonight in royal blue?

Goalkeeper 

Jordan Pickford

It’s strange to think but Pickford is now almost a shoe-in to start in goal for Everton. That is not something I would have thought I’d say even just a few months ago, but such has been the improvement in his consistency and powers of concentration that he is now indisputedly the Toffees current number one. I still have nagging doubts that the old Pickford will return sometime but he has been excellent recently.

The England keeper was outstanding against Villa in the match a few weeks back and had he not been Everton would have lost by three or four at least.

Robin Olsen is a good reserve to have and will no doubt continue to fill in from time-to-time but for the moment anyway (fingers crossed) the problems the Blues have had in this position for so long appear to have been solved.

Defenders

Mason Holgate, Micheal Keane, Ben Godfrey, Seamus Coleman, Lucas Digne

Carlo Ancelotti announced that Yerry Mina wouldn’t be fit for tonight’s game after sustaining a knock in the win over West Ham and that’s a big blow.

Mina had of course only just returned from another injury lay-off and this had enabled Ancelotti to go back to his three or five man defence that has worked so well recently.

If only Mina could stay fit the Toffees would have a top class Premier League centre-back but he just can’t stay healthy and I think this is one of the reasons why the Blues keep being linked with signing a new central defender this summer.

So it means another reshuffle and I’m going to make a controversial call and say Ancelotti should reinstate Hogate on the right of a back three with Godfrey on the left side where I think he is more naturally suited.

Obviously Holgate had a nightmare against Villa but he was playing centre-half alongside Godfrey and the two never looked confortable together. I think Holgate is much better suited to playing in a three or as a full-back – although that’s not his natural position – when he has cover and support.

Playing there with Keane and Godfrey would actually allow him and the team to switch between a back five or four with Coleman and/or Digne pushing forward.

Also Coleman can’t play right-back in an orthodox back four anymore as was shown by the Villa defeat and he’s more effective and influential pushing further forward provding width alongside his counterpart Digne.

Midfield

Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan, Gylfi Sigurdsson

Assuming he is deemed match-fit then Doucoure comes straight back into midfield of course with Allan playing the holding role. The athletic and energetic Frenchman has been badly missed recently and it will be a great boost to have him back striding around in the middle.

Against Villa last time out the Blues were outmuscled in midfield and lacked pace and so it will be good to have Doucoure back to inject that additional combativness and workrate.

Tom Davies had a good game at West Ham and he can do that sitting midfield screening role allowing Allan to get forward a bit more, which I think will help Everton’s attacking play long-term, but without James Rodriguez I think Ancelotti will want to play Sigurdsson for his creative contribution – when we see it!

Forwards

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison 

With Rodriguez out these two pick themselves as the attack, not least because Everton don’t have any viable alternatives as it’s clear Ancelotti doesn’t rate Josh King.

Calvert-Lewin scored again at the London Stadium and had a good match overall looking a constant threat all night. More of the same leading the line will do very nicely this evening.

Richarlison however, had another frustratingly inconsistent game, he flitted in and out of the action and for whatever reason he doesn’t seem to be very happy playing at the moment. So there is still a question mark about how to get the best out of the talented but moody Brazilian but when he’s at his best is a real menace to opposing defences.

Well there it is let’s see how closely it resembles the side that Ancelotti actually picks when the players walk out at Villa Park this evening.