Everton will look to build on their 1-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend when they come up against West Ham United and former manager David Moyes at the London Stadium on Saturday.
The success against the Seagulls came on the back of a hugely disappointing performance and result against arch-rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup, when their players were slaughtered by The Liverpool Echo in terms of their match ratings in the 1-0 loss.
Carlo Ancelotti will be looking to repeat his only win on the road so far as Toffees boss when his team beat Newcastle United at the end of 2019.
We take a look at the starting XI the Italian needs to select in the capital…
With little strong competition for his spot, Jordan Pickford continues between the sticks.
Even though the centre-half pairing of Mason Holgate and Michael Keane kept a clean sheet against Graham Potter’s men last time out, Ancelotti suggested post-match that Yerry Mina would start the next match and that he might rest Holgate, and we believe he should do exactly that with the Colombian able to deal with the physical presence of Sebastien Haller.
Lucas Digne should continue at left-back, but we feel a change is needed on the opposite side for the game against the Irons.
FFC highlighted how Djibril Sidibe was disappointing – particularly from a defensive point of view – against Brighton, and club captain Seamus Coleman should return to the team-sheet in his place.
Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?
Theo Walcott and Bernard start on the wings as they did against the Seagulls, but there is an enforced change in the centre of the park.
Gylfi Sigurdsson was partnered by Tom Davies last weekend as Morgan Schneiderlin dropped to the substitutes’ bench following the reverse at Anfield, but after the Iceland international has been ruled out through injury we believe that Fabian Delph would be the obvious pick for this clash.
Schneiderlin picked up a measly 3/10 rating from The Liverpool Echo for his last display on the road against Jurgen Klopp’s men, and coming up against Mark Noble and Declan Rice will be no easy task – therefore the more combative Delph is a better pick.
Up top, the absence of the injured Richarlison gives Moise Kean a chance alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and the Italian will need to make an impression given his competition have netted 20 goals between them in all competitions so far this term.
In other Everton news, Carlo Ancelotti has been full of praise for a Toffees player he hasn’t even seen play yet…
