Everton will host Cardiff City at Goodison Park this weekend looking to build on their fantastic goalless draw versus Chelsea before the international break. The Toffees are slowly finding their form under Marco Silva and would need to pick up maximum points from this contest so that they can go into next week’s crucial Merseyside derby against Liverpool with a lot of confidence and momentum on their side.
Silva should opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation and might name an unchanged team for this Saturday’s encounter at Merseyside.
4-2-3-1 Everton Predicted Lineup To Face Cardiff City
Defence
Jordan Pickford would continue in goal for the Blues of Merseyside while Maarten Stekelenburg has to be content with a place on the Toffees’ bench. The defensive duo of Michael Keane and Yerry Mina could be unleashed in central defence after they put on a brave display to earn an impressive clean sheet against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Lucas Digne would feature on the left side of Marco Silva’s defence as he looks to be a threat in the opposition half. Seamus Coleman is expected to resume his right-back duties, but with Jonjoe Kenny breathing down his neck for a place in Silva’s first-team, he needs to put on a good showing this weekend to retain the right-back spot in the long-run.
There is no doubt that the Everton defenders would be tested by the Bluebirds on Saturday as Neil Warnock’s side usually are quite attack-minded in their approach to the game.
Midfield
Idrissa Gueye would operate as a holding midfielder alongside Andre Gomes who is expected to act as the link up man between the defence and the attack. It is highly likely that the promising trio of Bernard, Gylfi Sigurðsson and Theo Walcott would be deployed in the opposition half as part of the Toffees attack.
Silva might give them a bit more freedom to express themselves than usual considering that they are facing one of the weakest defences in the league and that too, in front of their home supporters at Goodison Park.
Attack
Richarlison has been filling in as a makeshift centre-forward after both Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s recent struggles in front of goal. The Brazilian sensation will be expected to find the back of the net against a Cardiff defence that has shipped in 25 goals in 12 league matches.
