Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti could have a few selection dilemmas when it comes to the starting line-up for his side’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
The Blues boss must weigh up the necessities of keeping the players in his squad fresh over the busy festive period against the temptations of retaining a winning line-up after three successive Premier League victories.
Who keeps their place?
Can anybody be given a cast-iron guarantee of a place in Everton’s starting line-up? Perhaps not but maybe that’s a good position to be in for the Blues.
Centre-back Michael Keane has possessed the form and the durability to have been a defensive mainstay for most of the season but alongside him, Yerry Mina, who headed in the winner against Arsenal, has been a much-improved performer.
Abdoulaye Doucoure looks increasingly important in midfield, particularly after Allan’s injury, while up front, top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin with 14 goals is surely a must for a game of this magnitude despite Ancelotti’s warnings that he will have to be given a rest at some point this month.
Who could drop out?
Given his penchant for shock rotation of his goalkeepers, Jordan Pickford – who made way for youthful understudy Joao Virginia for the second round win over Salford City – might be looking over his shoulder at Robin Olsen again.
Concerning his own issues over returning to fitness, Mason Holgate might make way at right-back following captain Seamus Coleman’s comeback from injury and the availability of Jonjoe Kenny, although the manager has been curiously deploying Everton’s home-grown hero as a left winger when coming off the bench in recent weeks.
Both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Davies will be aware of Andre Gomes’ potential return, while the fitness of James Rodriguez could be a factor regarding Alex Iwobi who, while impressing, has played plenty of minutes lately.
Who could come in?
As previously mentioned, Coleman, who hadn’t figured since the 3-1 home defeat to Manchester United on November 7, came off the bench against Arsenal and is now in contention.
Wide men Bernard – who netted against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in the Premier League fixture – and Anthony Gordon will both be champing at the bit for game time.
Late fitness tests will determine whether Gomes and Rodriguez can be considered while up front, Cenk Tosun provides the most like-for-like alternative to Calvert-Lewin whenever the manager does determine his main goal outlet requires a breather.
