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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Tom Cavilla

Rafa Benitez faces Vitaly Mkyolenko decision as Everton consider midfield switch

Everton will be looking to bounce back from Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Brighton when in FA Cup action this weekend.

Rafa Benitez's side face Hull in the third round of the competition on Saturday evening, representing a first meeting between the sides since 2017.

Championship side QPR knocked Everton out of the Carabao Cup earlier on this season, but Benitez will be hopeful of avoiding a second cup elimination at the hands of a second tier side.

There was plenty of debate about the Everton team selected to face Brighton at the weekend, and we have look ahead to the changes the Blues boss could make when his team are next in action.

READ MORE: Rafa Benitez has got it all wrong as major Everton transfer question emerges

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Mkyolenko question

After missing out on the chance to make his debut for the club at Goodison Park due to Premier League player registration rules, could this be the match fans are able to see Vitaliy Mykolenko in action?

Elsewhere in defence, Jonjoe Kenny will have hopes of retaining his starting place after a respectable performance in the Brighton defeat.

Lucas Digne could be forced to sit out a fourth game in succession as talk surrounding his future intensifies, paving the way for the likes of Ben Godfrey and Seamus Coleman to start.

Midfield switch

Everton will be without the likes of Andros Townsend and Tom Davies ahead of next week's cup clash, with Fabian Delph also a doubt.

This leaves Benitez rather short of options in this area of the pitch, though Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan could continue their partnership in central midfield.

Andre Gomes may well be an option for the Blues boss, along with Fabian Delph, as a switch to a midfield three is considered.

Calvert-Lewin committed

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will have been left disappointed by his penalty miss during Sunday's loss, though has the chance to immediately make amends if selected at Hull.

After many months out on the sidelines, this is a fixture the 24-year-old will certainly wish to play a part in to help fire the team into the next round of the competition.

Lewis Dobbin, Ellis Simms and Salomon Rondon could prove to be effective options from the bench if chasing the game, meanwhile.

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