Everton line-ups for Brighton as Anthony Gordon and…

Everton line-ups for Brighton as Anthony Gordon and Tom Davies decisions made

Chris Beesley - Gordon comes back in

As welcome as the unexpected point at Premier League champions Manchester City was on New Year's Eve, it's no good if Everton don't follow it up with another positive result against Brighton & Hove Albion, which is basically a first win since the 3-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace back on October 22.

The draw at the Etihad needs to be a platform for brighter times ahead in 2023 after a horrific slide of four consecutive defeats before it.

I'm always wary about the Blues playing with three centre-backs but it worked well against Pep Guardiola's galaxy of stars last time out so I'd be tempted to retain the same defensive shape but with Amadou Onana suspended, a change must be made elsewhere.

Rather than draft in either Abdoulaye Doucoure or Tom Davies - who both came on as subs against City - in a like-for-like switch, hopefully Anthony Gordon has recovered from illness to return to the starting line-up and provide a more attack-minded option to enable Frank Lampard to keep his three at the back but have more firepower going forward.

My team (3-4-3): Pickford; Godfrey, Coady, Tarkowski; Patterson, Gueye, Iwobi, Mykolenko; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Gray

Matt Jones - Davies gets nod over Doucoure

How does the old adage go? Never change a winning line-up - or one that gets a draw at Manchester City?

Well, Everton are going to have to, at least a little bit.

Frank Lampard has a number of dilemmas to contend with for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion, as the Toffees seek to postpone the January blues for the majority of those in attendance at Goodison Park.

Amadou Onana is definitely out after earning a suspension at City. The natural replacement may be Abdoulaye Doucoure in terms of style and stature, although the Mali international has been a shadow of his former self when handed chances this season. Tom Davies, who has performed well when called upon, gets the nod in this XI.

Elsewhere, Lampard will also have to decide whether to ask Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ben Godfrey to go again after long injury layoffs. With the FA Cup clash against Manchester United on Friday looking less and less of a priority, the manager can afford to roll the dice and then rest them for the weekend.

That means sticking with the three-man defence and what will likely be another containment job against one of the slickest passing sides in the division. The onus will be on Alex Iwobi and Demarai Gray to exploit the space when Everton do manage to turn possession over, along with Anthony Gordon should he emerge from the bench.

My team (5-3-2): Pickford; Patterson, Godfrey, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gana, Davies; Gray, Calvert-Lewin

Connor O'Neill - Godfrey in midfield

Amadou Onana is definitely out after earning a suspension at Man City - so that is one enforced change Frank Lampard is going to have to make.

But apart from that, it should be more of the same from the Blues tonight. Coming in for the Belgium international should be Anthony Gordon, with Ben Godfrey moving into midfield.

The former Norwich City man was exceptional at the Etihad on Saturday and his pace and power is just what the Blues need in the middle of the pitch - although both Tom Davies and Abdoulaye Doucoure would be right to feel aggrieved if they were to miss out.

In goal will be Jordan Pickford, with Nathan Patterson, Conor Coady, James Tarkowski and Vitalii Mykolenko making up the back four. Godfrey should be joined in the middle by Idrissa Gueye and Alex Iwobi.

Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray, fresh from his screamer against City, should both be starting out wide. While Dominic Calvert-Lewin simply has to lead the line for the Blues.

My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Godfrey, Gueye; Gray, Iwobi, Gordon; Calvert-Lewin

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