Everton: 3 formations Rafa Benitez could select against Liverpool

Everton are comfortable in 4-4-1-1 shape

1. 4-4-1-1

Perhaps this has been the most used formation so far. When Dominic Calvert-Lewin was available, he started up top and Richarlison would play in the role of a second striker. Since Calvert-Lewin’s injury, Salomon Rondon and Richarlison have been playing in the striker’s role with Demarai Gray, Alex Iwobi or Andros Townsend playing as the secondary striker.

The midfield is formed by Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure on most occasions and when Doucoure was injured, Fabian Delph, Tom Davies and Jean-Philippe Gbamin have all slotted alongside the Brazilian.

The 4-4-1-1 formation allowed Everton to remain solid in the midfield and the pace of Gray was deadly on the counter as he could exploit spaces and run with the ball on the break. The 4-4-1-1 could easily transform to a 4-2-3-1 in the attack which would allow the Toffees to put pressure on Liverpool in an attack.

This formation yielded fruitful results early on when Everton had most of their key players available. This is the formation that Everton players are most comfortable with and things are going wrong, it is better to stick to the basics.