MX23RW : Friday, March 21 10:27:09| >> :120:7289:7289:

How Everton could line up against Aston Villa

How Everton could line up against Aston Villa
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Everton could line up for Thursday evening's Premier League clash away at Aston Villa.

Everton will still be without midfielder James Rodriguez for the trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Thursday evening.

The Colombian sustained a calf knock during the warm-up prior to the 2-1 defeat at home to the Villains earlier this month, and although Carlo Ancelotti stated last week that the injury is "minor", the 29-year-old is not expected to be fit in time to return to the first-team squad.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin and youngster Tyler Onyango are the only other absentees for the Toffees as they head to Villa Park due to respective knee and ankle problems.

Central midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure – who was back among the substitutes for the win at West Ham United on Sunday, after missing the last two months with a fractured foot – is in contention to feature on Thursday.

Ancelotti decided to use a 3-5-2 formation against the Hammers and the Italian may choose to stick with this setup against Villa, as opposed to the 4-2-3-1 lineup that he started with in the reverse fixture.

Mason Holgate could be recalled to the side at the expense of Yerry Mina to play alongside Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey in the heart of the defence, while Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne are set to operate in wing-back roles.

Gylfi Sigurdsson – who has played more matches for Everton than any other player so far this campaign – is likely to keep his place in the side, providing much-needed creativity in Rodriguez's absence.

The Icelandic international, along with Allan, could be joined in midfield by either Tom Davies or Andre Gomes, while Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are set to lead the line once again.

Everton possible starting lineup: Pickford; Holgate, Keane, Godfrey; Coleman, Gomes, Allan, Sigurdsson, Digne; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin

> Click here to see how Aston Villa could line up for this contest



Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:447074:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4492:
Written by
Oliver Thomas
No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Aston Villa vs Everton

Aston Villa
24.3%
Draw
17.3%
Everton
58.4%
214
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Newcastle United's Callum Wilson celebrates scoring their third goal on May 7, 2021
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Wilson, Eze, Alisson
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!