Sean Dyche kicked-off his Everton reign with a huge 1-0 win over Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
James Tarkowski’s second-half header from a Dwight McNeil corner was enough to secure the Blues all three points. The win, however, was not enough to move Everton out of the relegation zone.
The big games keep coming for the Blues with a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool next up for Dyche’s side. And with that game in mind, the ECHO has taken a look at the changes the Everton boss could make to his side for the game.
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Changes at the back
It is hard to imagine that Sean Dyche would look to make changes to a back four that performed so well against Arsenal on Saturday, but the Blues boss does have a number of options at his disposal.
Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina were all on the bench at the weekend, and all three could quite easily come in for either Tarkowski or Conor Coady. Ruben Vinagre is yet to start in the Premier League, but could come in for, if required, Vitalii Mykolenko at left-back.
Elsewhere, Godfrey starting at right-back is also an option for Dyche, with the former Norwich City man having played there in the past. But it would be incredibly harsh to drop Seamus Coleman after his display against the Gunners.
Winger conundrum
Eyebrows were initially raised when team news dropped after 11.30am on Saturday. Dwight McNeil coming in for Demarai Gray seemed a bold call.
However, it was confirmed post-match that Gray missed out due to a small injury. But McNeil more than took his chance and claimed an assist for his efforts.
While on the opposite flank, Alex Iwobi also impressed and Gray might just find himself watching on from the bench on Monday night. However, the fact Dyche would be able to call upon the former Leicester City man if required puts the Blues in a strong position.
Elsewhere in midfield, Tom Davies is another option who could come in, but given how well Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana and the returning Abdoulaye Doucoure all did, it is hard to imagine Blues boss Dyche would be keen to make changes.
Calvert-Lewin concern
Speaking after Saturday’s win over Arsenal, Dyche admitted his side are sweating on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness for the derby. Calvert-Lewin played the first hour of Saturday’s win before making way for Neal Maupay after Tarkowski’s goal.
After struggling with his fitness for the past 18 months, the 25-year-old is now set to be assessed by the medical staff at Finch Farm early this week. Asked about Calvert-Lewin’s physical condition after previously outlining in his post-match press conference that the player had been suffering with a hamstring issue, Dyche said: “We will have to wait and see. I don't think it is a drastic one but he needs to settle it down so we will probably give it two days before we scan it just as a precaution at this stage.”
Everyone connected to Everton will be hoping Calvert-Lewin is fit for the game, but if he isn’t, then Maupay could be the man given the nod, especially after impressing off the bench at Goodison.
However, Ellis Simms is another option who Dyche could call upon. Since returning from a successful loan spell at Sunderland back in December, the forward has found game time hard to come by, featuring just twice off the bench, with the last of those cameos coming against Southampton.
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