Everton v Chelsea: Blues’ injury jinx overshadows season opener

After a shortened summer break the Premier League returns this weekend and Everton open their account at home to Chelsea in two days time.

This is of course an exceptionally early time for the new season to kick off and in some ways it feels too early. It’s almost like it’s too soon since the last one finished, with Everton dramatically salvaging their top flight status in that penultimate match against Crystal Palace.

During the early part of the summer break there were sporadic rumours of a possible takeover, which ultimately came to nothing.

There were also constant stories as expected of this player and that being of interest to the Blues’ without anything concrete coming of most of these often highly tenious links.

The Toffees’ have added three players with defender James Tarkowski joining on a free from Burnley, wing-back Ruben Vinagre coming on loan for the season and finally Dwight McNeil also joining from the Clarets.

But, Everton had also sold arguably their best outfield player in Richarlison and despite having had time to bring in another goal-scorer, they haven’t done so.

That’s left only Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Salomon Rondon as the two senior centre-forwards in the squad with Ellis Simms sent out on loan again.

It is hardly enough firepower or strength in depth to cope with another Premier League season, especially one as uniquely demanding as this one will be.

And then, of course right on cue the Blues’ seemingly unending injury curse has struck again with Calvert-Lewin now out for up to a month. You just couldn’t make this up!

While stories of bids for midfielders continue, it is imperative that Everton get a goal-scorer in asap to fill the gap left now.

So, the Toffees’ face Chelsea and a rapid succession of games in August without perhaps the one player they simply cannot afford to have missing after Richarlison’s departure.

There is still time to bring in reinforcements but who knows how long that will take and in the meantime what on earth does Frank Lampard do?

Previously, I have suggested that the Blues’ should consider moving to a flexible 4-3-3 formation with a fluid attacking three rather than playing with a traditional number nine centre-forward like Calvert-Lewin.

I still think long-term that is the right strategy, but this was dependent on Everton still having Richarlison or a similar player in the side.

Anyway, in the short-term such tactical debates have to take second place to simply finding a workable solution.

The obvious way forward on Saturday, with Rondon also absent, is to start with Dele Alli playing as a sort of false nine, which he has done before, with Dwight McNeil, Anthony Gordon or Demarai Gray either side of him.

It is far from ideal but it might work and present Chelsea with a different attacking challenge.

As far as the rest of the team is concerned there are other complications of course with injury worries around several other players. It wouldn’t be Everton if there weren’t.

Midfield is full of uncertainty with the prospect of Idrissa Gueye once again becoming an Everton player, perhaps in time for the game this weekend and rumours of a big bid for Amadou Onana.

It’s still not certain though either will join and even if Gueye – the more likely to come in time for Chelsea – does return, who would start alongside him?

The lack of clarity over so many positions as the Blues’ start another campaign is very concerning. While a set-in-stone starting eleven isn’t really possible in today’s game, the key positions in the team’s spine need to be filled regularly by the same players to promote consistency.

So, it’s difficult to select a starting eleven with all this uncertainty.

Given that Lampard favours a back three or five, I will go for a team of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Ben Godfrey, Nathan Patterson, Vitalii Mykolenko, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Gueye (if he joins in time), McNeil, Dele and Gordon.

To be honest I can’t see Everton winning this opening day fixture and it looks like a tough few weeks are ahead with points difficult to come by when the Blues’ desperately need a good start.

In the meantime it’s stating the obvious but more quality additions must come through the doors at Goodison Park before the transfer window closes.