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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Adam Jones

Everton injuries could be key as Carlo Ancelotti faced with Dominic Calvert-Lewin question

Everton are running out of matches this season to get back to winning ways.

The Blues have been on a poor run in their last four games, picking up just two points to leave them in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Performances have been well below par in those fixtures, with Carlo Ancelotti not getting the reaction he will have wanted despite making five changes to his side against Aston Villa.

The boss could switch up his side once more for the trip to Sheffield United on Monday as he looks to secure a first win in five matches against the Blades.

But, what alterations could be made to the line-up?

Who could keep their place?

If Ancelotti is set to ring the changes once more, this could be a tricky one to predict.

Jordan Pickford has started every game for Everton this season and so he will keep his place in goal, while full backs Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne are both in good form and should keep their spots in the team.

Michael Keane, depending on fitness elsewhere, could find himself as the Blues' only fit senior centre-half for this match - and so his starting place should be guaranteed.

Options in midfield are still limited for Ancelotti and so one of Andre Gomes or Tom Davies is likely to keep their place, if not both of them.

Meanwhile Richarlison is still proving himself to be one of Everton's most dangerous players and will be needed if they are to secure a positive result on Monday.

Who could drop out?

One player who, unfortunately, will certainly be dropping out of the side once more is Mason Holgate.

The centre-back returned to the starting line-up against Aston Villa, but was substituted early in the first half due to his shin issue and looks set to miss the remaining matches of the season.

Aside from that, Everton seemingly faced no new injury issues in their last outing and any changes would seemingly be tactical.

Both Bernard and Alex Iwobi started at Goodison Park on Thursday but neither were able to stake a claim for a starting place in the future, so they could drop out once more.

Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin played another 90 minutes in what has been a hectic schedule for him following lockdown. The manager could perhaps be tempted to give his striker a rest in either of the coming matches.

Who might come in?

If Yerry Mina is not fit enough to step back into the side, then Jarrad Branthwaite has proven he is more than capable of doing a job for the Blues at centre-back.

The youngster looked comfortable and composed beyond his years against Aston Villa and was one of the few shining lights for Everton in that sense.

Elsewhere, Anthony Gordon could come back into the side after his strong performances since the lockdown break and Theo Walcott could earn a start after his goalscoring display at Goodison.

If a striker is rested, then Moise Kean will surely get the chance to impress from the beginning of a match for the first time since January against Newcastle - a performance which saw him bag his only goal for the club to date.

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