All the hype, the limelight, the expectations, the fantasies and the statement making signings would be at stake when Everton host Stoke City on Saturday in their first Premier League game of the campaign. The Potters have had their crucial upgrades this summer and would prove to be a tough nut to crack for the Toffees.
Defence
Under the bar will, of course, be Jordan Pickford as he kicks off his big season on Saturday, which will have huge implications on his World Cup participation next year. The young shot stopper has been quite positive in Everton’s pre-season tour as well as in the Europa League qualification, and manager Ronald Koeman would expect him to replicate his form from last season with Sunderland.
The four-man defence is likely to be Leighton Baines, Michael Keane, Ashley Williams and Cuco Martina. The Dutch gaffer experimented with a three-man defence in their last game against Slovakian side MFK Ruzomberok, but it didn’t reap any overwhelming results. We expect the set-up to remain the same from last season. Baines and Martina will have tough jobs though from the flanks.
Midfield
The two holding midfielders are expected to be Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye. Both started in the Europa qualifying game and would need more game time to regain the sharpness with which they had finished last season. They would provide the much-needed physique and work rate in the middle of the park for the Toffees more than anything.
Koeman will be having the likes of Gareth Barry and Tom Davies, who can come on later in the game to maintain the tempo and dictate the movements. Davies played at right wing back last game but is expected to start from the bench.
The number 10 role should be taken by Davy Klaassen. The Dutch midfield maestro has shown flashes of brilliance in Everton’s warm up games and although Premier League’s tempo would be far higher, Koeman would want him to get adapted to it as fast as possible.
Attack
Koeman is expected to go ahead with Kevin Mirallas and Sandro Ramirez on the wings and Wayne Rooney as the sole striker. Although both Rooney and Ramirez could do very little up front against MFK Ruzomberok, Koeman would expect things to fall into places under the right kind of challenge.
Aaron Lennon has a knock and is expected to start from the bench while Yannick Bolasie remains sidelined with an injury.
