Dele Alli and Salomon Rondon handed Everton chance as midfield dilemma emerges for Liverpool
Frank Lampard faces several big calls as he ponders potential starting XI changes for Everton's Merseyside Derby against Liverpool at Anfield
Substitutes Dele Alli and Salomon Rondon both played their part in Everton’s stoppage time equaliser against Leicester City but will that be enough to earn either of them a place in the starting line-up for the Merseyside Derby?
Richarlison secured a precious point for the Blues with his first Premier League goal from open play since January but Frank Lampard’s side know that a stern test awaits them across Stanley Park as they head to Anfield to face their quadruple-chasing neighbours Liverpool.
Dele hadn’t featured for five weeks but put the cross in that led to Richarlison’s goal with Rondon’s flick-on finding his fellow South American. Perhaps Lampard might be tempted to go long against the Reds so maybe there’s score for the Venezuelan to spearhead the attack and move Richarlison out wide.
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Given that you’d imagine Everton will want to keep it tight, it seems less obvious where Dele might slot into the starting line-up though and the former Tottenham Hotspur man might have to settle for bench duty again.
While Allan and Fabian Delph impressed in the previous match against Manchester United, they struggled to get a foothold against the Foxes and the Blues boss could consider putting a third body into the engine room be that Abdoulaye Doucoure or Donny van de Beek with the more attack-minded Demarai Gray a possible casualty or even Anthony Gordon who offered more against Brendan Rodgers’ side but seemed somewhat fatigued.
In defence there could be the chance for Michael Keane to come back in if Lampard wants to introduce a third centre-back or he could even move Ben Godfrey to left-back but that would be harsh on potential Merseyside Derby debutant Vitalii Mykolenko who has produced some encouraging displays in recent weeks.
