Everton line-ups for Liverpool as Andre Gomes dropped and big defensive change made

Joe Thomas - Garner at right-back

James Garner starts at right back for me. That’s the big decision I think Dyche should make.

In the absence of Coleman there is a big question mark over the right side of the defence. You can make different arguments about Young out there on Sunday - I loved his dig at the complaints on Monday and he played a role in a valuable clean sheet. He could also have conceded a few penalties though and I still have flashbacks to his second yellow last time out against Luis Diaz. Godfrey has been used there instead and he has strengths - but I think Garner reads the game well and is a safe pair of hands in a position he won the u21s Euros in last summer. It also means Everton get the benefit his distribution.

There was a notable drop off in set piece quality when Gomes took over against Forest. I liked elements of Gomes’ performance, especially the way he enabled the team to get the ball up the pitch, on the ground. But he also comes out for me, because I think the physicality and drive of Amadou Onana is needed for Everton to pose a real threat to Liverpool.

I was also unnerved by the lack of discipline at times in the central midfield against Forest - a few times Gomes and Gueye pressed and left gaps that weren’t exploited. I prefer the idea, tonight, of going back to Onana and Gueye and freeing up Doucoure to support Calvert-Lewin.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Garner; McNeil, Onana, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison; Calvert-Lewin

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Chri Beesley - Gomes and Young drop out

With Beto ruled out due to concussion protocols, Everton must hope that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit enough to lead the line against Liverpool, otherwise someone is going to have to be thrown in at the deep end.

Teenager Youssef Chermiti still doesn’t look ready to start in a game of this magnitude, particularly from a physical point of view, while Arnaut Danjuma remains rusty having not featured since the trip to Craven Cottage on January 30. Midfield places could be keenly-contested though and while Andre Gomes’ passing range gave the Blues a different dimension when he started against Nottingham Forest, the rough and tumble of a Merseyside Derby against Jurgen Klopp’s energetic side would tempt me to recall James Garner to the engine room after his decent showing off the bench.

Liverpool’s pace down the flanks would also prompt a change at right-back in my book. Ashley Young got away with it on Sunday but having lost his discipline in the reverse fixture at Anfield and given his marching orders for two bookable offences, I’d give the 38-year-old a rest here and put the more-youthful Ben Godfrey in instead.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Godfrey, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin