Everton: Team news and predicted XI ahead of West Ham clash | OneFootball

Everton will be hoping that they can continue their impressive start to the new Premier League season when they host high-flying West Ham United this afternoon.

The Toffees are currently sitting fifth in the top-flight table after Rafa Benitez’s charges hit the ground running in the opening weeks of 2021/22.

However, injuries to key players continue to pose problems for the Spaniard. Attacking duo Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are once again sidelined through fitness concerns, giving the manager some big calls to make.

It’s not all bad news on the injury front for the Merseyside outfit, though. Lucas Digne has been declared fit alongside Seamus Coleman and Alex Iwobi, giving Benitez some much-needed strength in depth.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects the 61-year-old to line up at Goodison Park, with just the one change from the side which held Manchester United to a draw last time out…

In goal, the virtually ever-present Jordan Pickford will once again start between the sticks for the Blues, and he’ll be hoping to keep his third clean sheet of the season.

Ahead of the England international should be a familiar back four, boosted by the return of club captain Coleman. The £22.5m-rated Ben Godfrey should make way for the right-back following some poor recent performances, allowing Digne, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane to back up the defensive unit.

Should Gordon start over Iwobi?

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The engine room in unlikely to witness any changes after their impressive display at Old Trafford prior to the international break, so 20-year-old Anthony Gordon keeps his place on the left wing.

That means Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Andros Townsend will form the rest of the midfield behind an attacking duo of Demarai Gray and Salomon Rondon. With Gray and Townsend both netting three league goals so far this term and Calvert-Lewin absent today, the two summer arrivals could be crucial in the final third for Everton.