Everton return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Blues were thumped 4-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates last time out. Gabriel Martinelli scored twice while Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were also on target as the Gunners maintained their Premier League title bid.
For Everton, however, the defeat left them inside the relegation zone, one point from safety. And ahead of the Blues’ trip to the Midlands at the weekend, the ECHO has taken a look at some of the changes Sean Dyche could make to his starting line-up for the game.
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Mix things up at the back
Eyebrows were raised when team news dropped at the Emirates with Michael Keane coming in for Conor Coady. It was the first time Blue boss Dyche had freshened things up at the back since he took over from Frank Lampard at the end of January.
However, the change did little to inspire Everton as they went on to concede four times, which means more changes could be made this weekend.
As well as Coady coming back in, Dyche could also turn to Yerry Mina, who many believe is the best centre-back at the club. Ben Godfrey is another option who could come in.
However, the former Norwich City man could also get the nod at right-back after playing the final 30 minutes of Wednesday’s game in that position after replacing Seamus Coleman.
While on the left, calls for Vitalii Mykolenko to drop out have grown in recent weeks, and the full-back didn’t cover himself in glory for Arsenal’s opener. Ruben Vinagre could be handed his first Premier League start of the season in place of the Ukraine international.
Gueye could have forced formation change
It was a moment that left Blues supporters speechless. Just what was Idrissa Gueye thinking for Arsenal’s second goal?
It is a question that only he knows the answer to, but it was not surprising to see him brought off at the interval. However, where does he go from here?
One would not be surprised to see him drop out of the team for Sunday’s game at the City Ground. But who comes in is the big question.
Mason Holgate was the man chosen to replace the Senegal international at the Emirates before Tom Davies was brought on in the closing stages. James Garner could also come into contention.
However, Gueye’s mistake may have handed Dyche the perfect opportunity to go 4-4-2 on Sunday. It is a formation many expected him to play when he joined the club.
But so far, the former Burnley boss has stuck with a 4-5-1 formation, however that might need to change as his side aim to add goals to their game.
Elsewhere in midfield, one imagines Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil, who is currently enjoying his best spell in an Everton shirt, will all be given the nod to start.
Gray and Maupay conundrums
To put it simply, Demarai Gray has to start at the City Ground on Sunday. He’s Everton’s best attacker and the only member of the squad who can create something out of nothing.
Gray was introduced in place of Maupay on Wednesday and tasked with leading the line for the final 30 minutes. He looked bright and offered something different.
Not for the first time this season, Maupay endured a mixed night on Wednesday. He got himself into a number of good positions, but fluffed his lines when his big moment arrived.
It is not Maupay’s fault that Farhad Moshiri failed to deliver on his promise that he would bring a centre-forward to the club during the January transfer window, but the Blues are certainly paying the price for not being able to get a striker over the line.
But now feels like the right time for Maupay to come out of the team. Everton need to try something different because what they are doing at the minute isn’t working.
Calvert-Lewin hope
Speaking after the game at the Emirates, Blues boss Dyche said it would be a 'close call' over whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be available for the game against Nottingham Forest.
The striker has not featured for Dyche since being substituted in the second half of his first game as Blues boss against Arsenal at Goodison Park last month. Dyche has expressly refused to discuss timelines when asked about Calvert-Lewin's fitness and when supporters can expect him back.
The forward has suffered an injury ravaged 18 months, but his return can’t come quick enough for his side. In an ideal world Calvert-Lewin would be phased back into the fold, but because of the position the Blues find themselves in, he is going to have to come back in and go straight in at the deep end.
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