Tactical Breakdown: Can Everton have an Oscar-worthy performance in Mission Impossible?
Everton could alter the shape of the team
Right now Liverpool are the last team Everton want to face right now, and that’s not even taking location into account. Liverpool put a lot of pressure on their opponents, and Everton have proven they struggle under pressure, with players like Michael Keane who have proven to be quite error-prone when put under pressure.
Everton’s full-backs will also be put to the sword, having to worry about Salah, Mane, Jota, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson could cause real problems for Digne and Coleman, especially if Rafa wants to use a player like Digne to try to carve out some chances for Everton since they will be desperate to get on the scoresheet for the sake of Rafa’s job.
The Toffees look like they will still be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which more than likely means Richarlison will lead the line for the Toffees, something which will give Everton fans some hope after the Brazilian’s performance in the previous Merseyside Derby. Everton will have a majority of their first team back, with Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina the only important players still missing out with injury.
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Rafa will have to try a different approach to the crossing-heavy style fans saw against Brentford will be rendered useless against Virgil Van Dijk and either Joel Matip or Ibrahima Konate all good in aerial situations.
Everton’s best chance to break Liverpool down is to have Demarai Gray and Richarlison target that right-hand side, it’s been well documented now that Alexander-Arnold isn’t the best defensively, and if they choose to go with Oxlade-Chamberlain instead of Henderson, then Everton could have a real chance of doing some damage on that right-hand side.
Fans are probably expecting to lose the Derby, but what fans expect is some heart and fire in the Everton players’ performance, it’s understandable to lose to a team with Liverpool’s quality, but if the Toffees go down without a fight, it will be understandable if fans are calling for Rafa to lose his job, and the board may fold under the pressure and restart the circle once again for Everton fans, with an interim manager taking over until the New Year before they hire a new manager who will be sacked after 18 months.
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Do Everton have a glimmer of hope to win against Liverpool?