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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Chris Beesley & Adam Jones & Matt C Jones

Everton line-ups as Nathan Patterson decisions made and Dominic Calvert-Lewin question

'Patterson starts with DCL on the bench'

Adam Jones: Selection issues will continue to make life trickey for Frank Lampard in this match. Donny van de Beek is at least expected to be back involved which will be a bonus, but not being able to call on Fabian Delph in the wake of Allan's continued suspension will be tricky.

The big debate, you'd imagine, will centre around whether to use a four or five-man defence. The latter still does not seem to suit Everton in my personal opinion, so a flat back four should be required.

After his strong performances over the international break, capitalise on Nathan Patterson's confidence with a start at right-back - also giving Vitalii Mykolenko his chance on the opposite flank. Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane should take the central positions, with the latter perhaps matching up well in a potential physical battle against Michail Antonio.

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Van de Beek should partner Abdoulaye Doucoure just in front of the defence, with Alex Iwobi given an opportunity as a No.10 just behind Richarlison. The Brazilian makes the kind of runs in behind that Iwobi will surely love to pick out, and their link-up could be key.

That leaves Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench for now, admittedly. But that's a great option from the bench if Lampard needs to change things up at any stage.

My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko; Van de Beek, Doucoure; Gray, Iwobi, Gordon; Richarlison

'It's time for Nathan Patterson'

Chris Beesley: I desperately want Everton to revert to a back four and go with a three-man midfield but with Allan suspended, I don't see how they can do - unless they keep Andre Gomes in - and I don't want to do that given the questions over his off the ball play, especially away from home.

Therefore I've begrudgingly retained Frank Lampard's seemingly favoured 3-4-3 formation for the trip to the club where he started his career but there are some changes in personnel. I think it's time that Nathan Patterson was finally given a run-out in the Premier League so he slots into the wide right area as an attack-minded wing-back while Seamus Coleman moves inside to the right of a back three.

Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been working hard at Finch Farm over the international break, spearheads the attack.

My team (3-4-3): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Godfrey; Patterson, Doucoure, Van de Beek, Mykolenko; Gordon, Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

'Patterson and Mykolenko as wing-backs'

Matt Jones: Frank Lampard has some unenviable choices to make yet again.

With Allan suspended and Fabian Delph still injured, Everton lack defensive bite in midfield and there's no real obvious candidate to provide it. Against a formidable pairing of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, the Blues look especially light in this area.

Factor in that a flimsy midfield pairing will try to provide cover for an out-of-sorts defence and it would perhaps make sense for Lampard to go with five at the back again. The order of the day should be to sit, stifle and try to spring on the break - recent evidence shows the Toffees cannot go toe-to-toe with opponents on the road.

The time has surely come to entrust Vitalii Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson with starts, especially given the incumbent full-backs have left a lot to be desired with recent performances.

Up top, with Demarai Gray struggling for form since his injury, it's time to see Anthony Gordon, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in tandem.

My team (5-2-3): Pickford; Patterson, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko; Doucoure, Van de Beek; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

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