Everton might as well make changes
Adam Jones: I know what they always say about not changing your team too much for League Cup matches, but realistically Everton might as well. Frank Lampard still has some unanswered questions in this squad about his personnel and system, so this could be a good opportunity to try some things out.
I'd certainly give some youngsters a chance to impress from the start, with Reece Welch and Lewis Warrington being at the top of the list. The former could do really well alongside an experienced head such as James Tarkowski keeping his place to lead him through in what should change to a back four.
Warrington, meanwhile, can be part of a three-man midfield which could also include a first start for Amadou Onana. Some might question risking him in a game such as this, but I personally think it would be a great way to get him some minutes.
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Seamus Coleman could continue his recovery from injury while Ruben Viangre could be given an opportunity to really show his talents on the other side of the pitch. Up front there's a question over Tom Cannon, but I think that Salomon Rondon should get more minutes under his belt - flanked by Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil.
My team (4-3-3): Begovic; Coleman, Tarkowski, Welch, Vinagre; Warrington, Onana, Iwobi; Gray, Rondon, McNeil.
Lampard faces intriguing assignment
Matt Jones: It's tough to know quite where to pitch the team selection for a League Cup tie for Everton at the moment.
So much focus has been on Premier League safety in recent months and the shifting of focus will be an intriguing assignment for Frank Lampard. Given the lack of options in key areas of the squad, dare he risk some of his more significant players? With no win in the top flight yet this season, he will have to consider his choices carefully with Brentford away looming on Saturday.
Nevertheless, some changes will surely be made, with Asmir Begovic likely to come in between the sticks. In front of him, Michael Keane will likely get an opportunity at the centre of the back three, with James Tarkowski and returning skipper Seamus Coleman either side.
Stanley Mills and Ruben Vinagre can give the team thrust on the flanks, while in midfield Allan feels like a sensible foil for the enigmatic Amadou Onana.
At the top end of the pitch, it remains a challenge to pick a productive trio. Dwight McNeil should start and is sadly already looking in need of a confidence boost, while Alex Iwobi can do damage from a more advanced position. Salomon Rondon - who else? - will be tasked with leading the line. And once he inevitably starts to tire around the hour mark, who knows?
My team (5-2-2-1): Begovic; Patterson, Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Vinagre; Allan, Onana; McNeil, Iwobi; Rondon.
Players can rest - after the win is secured
Christopher Beesley: As Michael Ball says in his ECHO column, Everton need to kill off the game at Fleetwood in the first hour, then think about giving players a rest so with the Blues still in desperate need of a first victory this season plus the desire to avoid a giant-killing, there’s no excuse not to name a strong starting XI. With five substitutes allowed, too, there’s also plenty of scope for Frank Lampard to give players a breather in the second half if things are going well.
There are several areas in which he can shuffle his pack without necessarily weakening the side too much, though, although goalkeeper is not one for me. I suspect that Asmir Begovic will get a run-out and while I fully back his ability, ‘resting’ keepers has got to be one of the biggest nonsenses in elite modern football, because they don’t need them and this isn’t the under-sevens where the lad on the bench will get upset because he’s not been given a chance – the Bosnia Herzegovina international is paid handsomely to be Jordan Pickford’s understudy and I’d always play the England number one when available.
Changes can be made in defence though and Michael Keane could do with a start so he slots in for Mason Holgate while captain Seamus Coleman is also fit-again but I’d deploy him as a third centre-back rather than wing-back so James Tarkowski gets the night off. On-loan Ruben Vinagre comes in for his debut at left wing-back while it’s all change in the engine room as Allan and Amadou Onana replace Alex Iwobi and Tom Davies.
Up front, Demarai Gray – because he scored on Saturday – and Dwight McNeil are out wide, just so the new signing from Burnley can get some minutes rather than any doubts over Anthony Gordon’s future, are out wide while Salomon Rondon spearheads the attack in the hope that he might come good against lower division opposition having bagged a brace against non-League Boreham Wood in the FA Cup last season.
My team (3-4-3): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Coady; Patterson, Allan, Onana, Vinagre; McNeil, Rondon, Gray.
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