da apostebet： Everton will look to make it successive wins against Premier League title challengers when they welcome arch-rivals Liverpool to Goodison Park for the Merseyside derby tonight.
da wazamba： The Toffees beat an Arsenal side that was second in the standings going into the game 2-1 at home last week – it was a win that relieved some of the pressure on manager Ronald Koeman, who had won just one of his previous ten matches before the success against the Gunners.
Koeman’s men had been looking to relieve the pressure on Romelu Lukaku to provide the goals, and they certainly did that against Arsene Wenger’s side with defenders Seamus Coleman and Ashley Williams getting the goals for the hosts.
Tonight they come up against Jurgen Klopp’s high-flying Reds, who overtook Arsenal in midweek when they ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Here is FootballFanCast’s Everton XI that will win and take the bragging rights against Liverpool…
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg
With Everton winning just one of their last ten matches prior to beating Arsenal, it hasn’t been the best of times for Stekelenburg between the sticks of the out of form side.
However, he would have enjoyed the success against the Gunners and he also would have counted himself unlucky that he didn’t keep a clean sheet when Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick deflected off of Ashley Williams and there was nothing he could do to prevent the goal.
RB: Seamus Coleman
The Republic of Ireland international has been one of the most consistent full-backs in the Premier League over the course of the past few years and he showed just why in the impressive win against Arsenal.
As well as looking solid defensively, Coleman offers another attacking dimension to this Toffees team and he showed how influential he can be when he scored the equalising goal with his head from a brilliant Leighton Baines cross on Tuesday.
CB: Ashley Williams
The Welshman would have been devastated to see Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick deflect off of him and into the net during the week, but he more than made amends for it by scoring the winning goal.
Williams is a brilliant leader and he rose highest to head home in the 86th minute to give Ronald Koeman’s men a vital three points. He will need to be at his best against a Liverpool team that have scored 40 Premier League goals this term.
CB: Ramiro Funes Mori
The Argentina international started the defeat against Watford last weekend, but in what was a disappointing overall performance for the Toffees, he was dropped down to the substitutes’ bench as Phil Jagielka was preferred alongside Williams.
The Everton captain would have been the favourite to start in the Merseyside Derby had he not have been sent off in injury time against Arsenal, meaning Funes Mori will step in to deal with the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
The South American defender won’t be treated all too well by the travelling fans though after his horror challenge injured Divock Origi the last time the two teams met and earned him a red card.
LB: Leighton Baines
Like Coleman on the right-hand side, Baines is another full-back that has been one of the most influential in recent Premier League history.
It was his cross that Coleman scored from in the win against Arsenal – his 48th assist in the top flight and four more than any other defender.
As well as trying to stop the in-form Sadio Mane in the Merseyside Derby, the left-back will look to provide that attacking threat again as well.
CM: Idrissa Gueye
While Coleman and Williams were Everton’s goalscoring heroes in midweek, it was Gueye who was deservedly named as the Man of the Match against Arsene Wenger’s men.
The Senegalese midfielder has arguably been the Toffees’ best player this season and he showed why he is so highly-rated by manager Ronald Koeman with his performance against the Gunners – he made more passes (51) and more tackles (five) than any of his team-mates against a previously prolific Arsenal frontline.
CM: Gareth Barry
After the disappointing 3-2 defeat to Watford last weekend, the 35-year-old was rested for the visit of Arsenal in midweek.
James McCarthy came into the starting XI but Barry should return to the side in the Republic of Ireland international’s place to face Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby, with Ronald Koeman knowing that his composure and experience could prove to be vital in a match as significant as this one is for both clubs.
CM: Ross Barkley
With Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry providing the defensive base in the middle of the park, Ronald Koeman will want that creative spark in midfield too, and he will surely look to Barkley to provide it.
The England international had been dropped to the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks after some disappointing performances, but he was certainly more threatening against Arsenal in midweek and he could have a great battle against Reds captain and Three Lions team-mate Jordan Henderson.
RW: Enner Valencia
The forward had found first-team minutes hard to come by under Ronald Koeman this season but he was given a surprise start against Arsenal as Kevin Mirallas and Gerard Deulofeu dropped to the bench.
Of course, with Yannick Bolasie also set for a long spell on the sidelines with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, there is an opportunity to impress and Valencia certainly took his chance during the week, looking good on the counter-attack and providing good support for Romelu Lukaku.
ST: Romelu Lukaku
Despite scoring just two goals in his last seven Premier League matches – both against Watford last weekend – the Belgian is still Everton’s main man up top and to be honest, he has little competition with the likes of Arouna Kone and Oumar Niasse completely out of Ronald Koeman’s plans.
Even when he isn’t putting the ball in the back of the net Lukaku is a threat, though, and he will want his team-mates to support him and get around him as much as they did in the win against Arsenal when Liverpool head to Goodison.
LW: Aaron Lennon
The winger was another player to capitalise on Ronald Koeman’s decision to make a number of changes to his starting XI following the disappointing defeat against Watford, coming into the starting XI against Arsenal in place of Kevin Mirallas.
Lennon’s pace was especially effective on the counter attack and he could be asked to play a similar role in the Merseyside derby, as well as making sure Liverpool full-back Nathaniel Clyne doesn’t get forward too often.