Everton vs Manchester City: 5 things to watch against Manchester City
By Rob Fisher
Lampard has to pack another into midfield to combat City’s biggest threats
3. Midfield reinforcements required
In our Southampton review, we labelled the Everton midfield in the second half as powder puff with Gomes and Van De Beek over powered by the Saints. Allan received an early booking and was replaced by Gomes at half time which clearly changed the make up of Lampard’s ideal midfield.
Fortunately for Lampard a fix of these issues in midfield can be resolved with the return from injury of Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Surely Lampard will have to go with an extra body in midfield against a City team who will look to play through the lines at every opportunity. So many times Everton’s midfield of two has been overrun against weaker teams than City.
After one of the poorest displays seen in the second half surely, Gomes won’t be included in those plans for an extra midfielder. Allan, Van De Beek and Doucoure would seem to be the way to go as long as Doucoure is deemed fully fit.
This would add a bit of everything and be the best midfield line up Everton have fielded all season. The tenacity and ball winning capabilities of Allan, the power and strength of Doucoure and the passing ability of Van De Beek.
Some Evertonians may say why risk Doucoure in a game where a positive result is so unlikely, but the truth is Lampard will know every game that offers points from now until the end of the season must have it’s strongest line up available. The FA Cup should become the resting game, which can be easily done next week against Boreham Wood.
These three can at least try their best to combat whoever Guardiola picks in the controlling part of City’s midfield two out of De Bruyne, Gundogan and Silva.
It is likely in this midfield three that Van De Beek can be relieved of most defensive duties and perhaps play the role that releases the Everton forwards as Kane did for Spurs last week.
Looking past the City game these three in midfield really hold the key to getting Everton’s away form turned around. The weak and limp performances seen away from Goodison Park need to be stopped, these three can certainly offer more chances for Lampard to improve the away form and take the pressure off these home games.
Continued on the next page…