Everton vs Crystal Palace: Predicted Line-Up | Will Branthwaite’s Return Strengthen the Defence?

Everton managed to secure a point—finally. But Sean Dyche’s pressure won’t ease unless they claim all three points against Crystal Palace this weekend.

 

So, how might the Blues line up against a Palace side still searching for their first win of the season?

 

Who’s Out? Good news for Everton: Jarrad Branthwaite is available again.

 

Whether he’ll be immediately placed back into the starting lineup remains to be seen, but fans will hope so.

 

After an illness swept through the squad last week, Dyche will have more options to choose from this time.

 

Vitaliy Mykolenko, James Garner, and Idrissa Gueye are all back, leaving Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman, Youssef Chermiti, and Armando Broja as the only players unavailable.

 

Patterson is close to a return and is expected to feature with the under-21s on Monday as he regains fitness, meaning he could rejoin the senior squad next week.

 

Available Squad vs. Palace:

 

Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Begovic

 

Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Young, Dixon (Coleman, Patterson – Injured)

 

Midfielders: Doucoure, Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Mangala, Armstrong

 

Wingers: McNeil, Harrison, Ndiaye, Lindstrom

 

Attackers: Calvert-Lewin, Beto (Chermiti, Broja – Injured)

 

 

Tactics and Formation Everton’s performance against Leicester was largely positive, so major changes might not be necessary.

 

The key question is whether Branthwaite will start.

 

At left-back, Mykolenko is likely to return, with the right-back position being a toss-up between Young and Garner.

 

In midfield, Mangala and Doucoure had strong performances last week, so they’ll likely keep their spots, especially since Gueye had limited training.

 

Ndiaye, McNeil, and Calvert-Lewin are expected to start, while the final spot will be contested between Lindstrom, who improved against Leicester, and Harrison.

Predicted Starters (likelihood of starting out of 10):

 

Jordan Pickford – 9/10

 

Ashley Young – 6/10

 

Jarrad Branthwaite – 6/10

 

James Tarkowski – 9/10

 

Vitaliy Mykolenko – 7/10

 

Orel Mangala – 8/10

 

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 8/10

 

Iliman Ndiaye – 8/10

 

Dwight McNeil – 9/10

 

Jesper Lindstrom – 6/10

 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 9/10

 

 

Bench: Virginia, Dixon, Keane, O’Brien, Garner, Gueye, Iroegbunam, Harrison, Beto