Everton face Bournemouth today in dire need of a victory as they edge closer to the drop zone in the Premier League table. The Toffees' 2-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend left them just two points above Ipswich Town in 16th position.

Bournemouth hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Everton and Dyche will be without several key men for the clash, including Dwight McNeil and Seamus Coleman.

So how should Everton line-up today? Our writers have their say:

READ MORE: Everton major transfer change finally made as Sean Dyche prepares for 'tough month'

Something different required

Joe Thomas: I’d try something a little different at the back today. Everton’s tough run of fixtures continues at a place where they have experienced some truly miserable moments over recent years and this is another game they enter as underdogs even with their form and recent defensive resilience.

Given the clean sheet record it might sound harsh to change the back line but something still isn’t quite right with the balance of the team and Vitali Mykolenko has struggled recently, albeit it against some tricky opponents.

As a result, I’d move Ashley Young to the left and bring in Nathan Patterson. Patterson has looked good in his cameos against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Both of those games were lost even he entered the fray, so his impact needs taking with a pinch of salt, but he did something that this team is really finding difficult at the moment - create chances.

It is still a risk, you sacrifice some defensive solidity - even more if you put Jesper Lindstrom ahead of him, as I would. But Everton need to create supply lines to the striker and this is one avenue worth a look at. It helps that Lindstrom’s defensive game has significantly improved, meaning Patterson will get some help. Jack Harrison offers more on that front but I think it’s clear he’s lacking confidence right now. In truth, both right wing options need - and deserve - a slice of luck to see if it will rejuvenate them after a tough period, going forward at least. Maybe Patterson might inspire that.

Beyond that I would keep things the same. I was really disappointed with the Forest display but the four before that were generally good. I would give Armando Broja another start just to see if he can grow into the team and find a route into form.

My team: Pickford; Young, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Patterson; Ndiaye, Mangala, Doucoure, Gueye, Lindstrom; Broja

Lindstrom and Broja decisions made

Chris Beesley: Despite their encouraging hat-trick of consecutive draws against Premier League high-fliers Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City throughout a daunting-looking December programme, a 2-0 home defeat at home to Nottingham Forest in their final game of 2024 coupled with Ipswich Town’s shock victory over Chelsea by the same scoreline sees Everton go into the New Year just two points above the relegation zone.

Those small but encouraging steps that Sean Dyche’s side were building upon following their 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers – who have also subsequently picked up under new boss Vitor Pereira – suddenly feel like they lack foundations with the Blues entering 2025 and the halfway point of their Premier League season at Bournemouth, just one bad weekend away from falling into the bottom three.

While things have generally tightened up at the back after the shambolic start to the campaign – epitomised by the Cherries’ inexplicable late comeback to triumph 3-2 at Goodison Park on the final day of August – Everton’s chronic lack of ideas or inspiration going forwards has been their downfall, as evidenced by their toothless display against Nuno Espirito Santo’s surprise package last time out. Just who should lead the line, because after a sprinkling of encouraging cameos off the bench, adding fresh legs against tiring opponents, Armando Broja suffered from all the issues that have been afflicting Dominic Calvert-Lewin when he was handed his first start, but I’d be tempted to at least give him another go at the Vitality Stadium.

The Blues have never won a Premier League fixture at the division’s smallest ground so something needs to change to end that sequence. Dyche might not have many viable alternatives as his disposal but on the right wing, which has become a problem position, with neither of the options having yet scored a goal, I think it’s time to bring Jesper Lindstrom back in after Jack Harrison struggled against Forest before being hooked at half-time.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, Lindstrom, Ndiaye; Broja.