Everton line-ups for Luton as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and new formation decisions made
Our writers pick their preferred XI for the clash with Luton in the Premier League
Joe Thomas – Garner begins on the right
What a difference a week makes!
Two emphatic away wins founded upon great performances and the momentum is with Everton. Not only that, but Jack Harrison is back, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has hit form and James Garner has turned into a creative monster. The question for me is where Garner plays today.
I’m conflicted. On the one hand I think this may be a chance to experiment. But ultimately this is a must-win and sticking to what we know can work is key, so it’s a 4-5-1 for me and the same as how it started against Brentford. That means Garner and McNeil out wide and Doucoure bursting through the middle. I would start Calvert-Lewin up top and Nathan Patterson at right back with Ashley Young moving across in the presumed absence of Vitalii Mykolenko.
Two emphatic away wins founded upon great performances and the momentum is with Everton. Not only that, but Jack Harrison is back, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has hit form and James Garner has turned into a creative monster. The question for me is where Garner plays today.
I’m conflicted. On the one hand I think this may be a chance to experiment. But ultimately this is a must-win and sticking to what we know can work is key, so it’s a 4-5-1 for me and the same as how it started against Brentford. That means Garner and McNeil out wide and Doucoure bursting through the middle. I would start Calvert-Lewin up top and Nathan Patterson at right back with Ashley Young moving across in the presumed absence of Vitalii Mykolenko.
Another game and another afternoon where Sean Dyche has a number of selection dilemmas for all the right reasons.
After the back-to-back wins over Brentford and Aston Villa and with a near-full squad to choose from, it is safe to say that the Everton manager has a number of selection conundrums for this afternoon’s game against Luton Town.
However, for me, it is time to mix things up from a tactical point of view, and that means going 4-4-2 and attempting to take the game to the Hatters. The back five pretty much picks itself, with Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite all keeping their places, while if Vitaliy Mykolenko misses out, Ashley Young should come in at left-back.
In midfield, James Garner has to keep his place in the middle, and he should be partnered by Amadou Onana, who was excellent against Unai Emery’s side. Dwight McNeil should start on the right, with Arnaut Danjuma over on the left.
While up top, it is time to unleash Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The pair could really cause Luton’s problems and offer Everton a dimension to their attack that we haven’t seen for a long time.
My team (4-4-2): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; McNeil, Garner, Onana, Danjuma; Beto, Calvert-Lewin
Chris Beesley – Garner must start
Finally Everton manager Sean Dyche has some positive selection dilemmas with decisions to make in various different areas.
With two goals in as many games, Dominic Calvert-Lewin surely now has to be given the nod up front with the Blues boss enjoying the luxury of having two genuine like-for-like alternatives between his number nine and new boy Beto. However, it’s in the centre of the park where Dyche arguably has his biggest call.
James Garner has been a revelation over the past couple of matches, playing pivotal roles in the away wins at Brentford and Aston Villa. In the former he provided the cross that led to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s opener before winning the ball back and threading it through to Calvert-Lewin for his goal while in the latter he of course opened his own account for Everton.
