Everton will face West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday (2 March) at Goodison Park.
The Toffees will be heavily boosted after getting back four points which takes them to 15th in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche has confirmed in the pre-match press conference that the Toffees have finally got “clarity” on where they stand, and now they can play with more freedom.
Goodison Park will be producing an electrifying atmosphere as usual and it’s up to the players to rise to the challenge.
Everton are still without a win in 2024 and are not completely safe yet from getting drawn into a relegation battle, but they do have some breathing space now.
Ahead of this game, Dyche has confirmed that Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana will be assessed before the game.
How Everton could line up v West Ham
Seamus Coleman is fit again and there could be a temptation to play him, but Ben Godfrey has been brilliant recently. There is no need to change the current defensive set-up.
Unless both fail to pass the late fitness test, expect Dyche will use Onana ahead of Gueye for this one. The Belgium midfielder brings a lot more to the side with his directness, dynamism, and energy – something Everton badly need against the Hammers.
The biggest problem for the Toffees right now is their lack of goals upfront. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t scored since October and he is short of confidence at the moment. While he remains the club’s best striker, Dyche must make a bold decision and drop him.
Lewis Dobbin has made only one league start this season but he has impressed in cameos. Dyche likes young striker Youssef Chermiti but he needs to be integrated gradually. Dobbin, 21, deserves a chance upfront, and Dyche must make a bold decision here.
Thus, he is likely to make two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Brighton. Dobbin and Onana are likely to come in for Gueye and Calvert-Lewin.
Everton predicted starting line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Doucoure, Onana, Garner, McNeil, Harrison, Dobbin.
