Everton at Bournemouth: Predicted Line-Up | Time to Change? LOL.

01/03/2025 05:00 AM

Can we expect anything different for the Blues at Bournemouth?

Some decent form was abruptly ended in predictable fashion when Nottingham Forest comfortably beat Everton to round off 2024.

So with a similar task facing us in the form of surprise package, AFC Bournemouth, is Sean Dyche about to make some changes for this one?

Probably not. But let's dig into it.

Who's Out?

Dwight McNeil and Seamus Coleman remain out after failing to overcome minor niggles.

Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner are working their way back, but it'll still be some weeks before they return to first-team action.

EVERTON SQUAD AVAILABLE VS BOURNEMOUTH

Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Begovic

Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Young, Dixon

Midfielders: Doucoure, Gueye, Garner (INJURED), Iroegbuman (INJURED), Mangala, Armstrong

Wingers: McNeil (INJURED), Harrison, Ndiaye, Lindstrom

Attackers: Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Chermiti, Broja

Tactics and Formation

If the Blues want to start scoring goals, it's clear some changes in personnel are needed.

The full-back positions are a particular attacking weakness, with neither Young nor Mykolenko providing any dynamism. Blues are increasingly eager to see Patterson get a nod at right-back, but in all honesty, Dyche just doesn't seem keen on the youngster.

In midfield, it would also be nice to add some creativity added to a hard-working midfield. Mangala and Gueye are good battlers, so ideally that could see Ndiaye move into the centre instead of Doucoure. Again, though, not likely from Dyche.

The most likely change is Jesper Lindstrøm coming in for a Jack Harrison who has been woefully low on confidence for sometime.

We're also likely to see a change, with options in the form of Broja, Calvert-Lewin and Beto. I'm wondering if Beto may even get a rare start here.

Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)

Jordan Pickford – 9/10

Ashley Young – 6/10

Jarrad Branthwaite – 8/10

James Tarkowski – 9/10

Vitaliy Mykolenko – 8/10

Idrissa Gana Gueye – 8/10

Orel Mangala – 8/10

Abdoulaye Doucoure - 7/10

Jesper Lindstrøm – 6/10

Iliman Ndiaye – 8/10

Beto – 6/10

Bench

Joao Virginia

Nathan Patterson

Jake O'Brien

Michael Keane

Jack Harrison

Harrison Armstrong

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Armando Broja

Youssef Chermiti