With tomorrow’s derby looming ever closer how might Everton manager Rafa Benitez consider setting up his team tomorrow evening as he take on his former employers.
The fact he is facing his former employers is the rub of course. Everton face a crunch derby clash against their fiercest rivals with a manager in the dugout who has enjoyed his best times in English football, managing that opponent.
Leaving all that aside for now how can Benitez’s line up his side to give the Toffees’ the best hope (and not much of that) of causing an upset?
One possibility is that centre-back Yerry Mina might return although that’s still far from certain and if the Colombian isn’t fit to play than he’ll have to stick with the same back four as played against Spurs and Brentford.
As far as the rest of the side goes is I think that while he might look at two banks of four, perhaps he should consider going with a 4-3-3.
I think to compete with Liverpool Benitez needs to match them as much as he can. The midfield is critical and if Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure are both still fit enough to start then I’d look to partner them with Fabian Delph.
That would at least give the team enough bodies in the middle of the park to match Liverpool and if Delph can sit a little deeper in front of the defence then Allan and/or Doucoure might be able to break forward on a few occasions to ensure whoever it starting up front is not too isolated.
That lone centre-forward has to be Richarlison and either side of the Brazilian would be summer signings Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend wide of him.
That’s also a front three that will at least work and press and so it might also provide a bit of pressure on a Liverpool defence that is vulnerable if you can get at them.
Will any formation of tactical system succeed against the Reds? I don’t know, probably not, but I don’t think Benitez can afford to just sit back with the bus parked so to speak.
Given his past and the current pressure building on him he needs to show some imagination and courage in his team selection to try and show he is committed to trying to comepte and get something from this match.