Everton vs Brighton: Predicted Line-Up | A New Blue View?

The Blues are back in town.

And for the first time in a few years, there’s a sniff of hope in the air for Everton Football Club. A new stadium almost finished, a potential new owner on the horizon, a surprisingly positive transfer window (so far, at least), some decent pre-season performances and some exciting young Blues looking set to freshen things up. Not bad, Blues. Not bad.

But nothing scares me more than being “confident” about Everton.

So how will Mr Dyche line-up his Blues to kick-off the final season at Goodison Park?

The only real disappointment at Everton right now is that the Blues are starting the season with quite a lengthy injury list.

Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner, Nathan Patterson and Youssef Chermiti all out.

But with new faces available, like Tim Iroegbunam, Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom and Jake O’Brien, the Blues aren’t too short of numbers.

Goalkeepers: Pickford, Virginia, Crellin

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

Midfielders: Doucoure, Gueye, Garner (INJURED), Iroegbunam, Armstrong

Wingers: McNeil, Harrison, Ndiaye, Lindstrom

Attackers: Calvert-Lewin, Beto, Chermiti (INJURED), Maupay

In terms of formation, we know what to expect. Dyche’s beloved 4-4-1-1. And we probably won’t see much change from the Roma friendly, just with Young coming in for the injured Coleman.

Pickford between the sticks, Young on the right, Mykolenko left, Tarkowski and O’Brien in the middle.

In midfield, it’ll probably be Gueye anchoring, with the impressive young Iroegbunam replacing Onana and Doucoure roaming more freely in front.

Expecting McNeil and Harrison to start as I’m getting a sense that Ndiaye might be held back as a potential “impact” player from the bench – for now, at least.

DCL up top.

Jordan Pickford – 9/10

Ashley Young – 8/10

James Tarkowski – 9/10

Jakes O’Brien – 8/10

Vitaliy Mykolenko – 8/10

Abdoulaye Doucoure - 7/10

Idrissa Gueye – 9/10

Tim Iroegbuman – 7/10

Jack Harrison – 8/10

Dwight McNeil – 8/10

Dominic Calvert-Lewin– 9/10

Joao Virginia

Billy Crellin

Mason Holgate

Roman Dixon

Harrison Armstrong – Watch out for this 17-year-old central midfielder this season. He looks legit.

Iliman Ndiaye

Jesper Lindstrom

Beto

Neal Maupay