Marco Silva
Everton kick off their Premier League campaign under Marco Silva with a visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium. The Toffees, who have heavily invested in their squad this summer, embarked on their pre-season in stupendous fashion, thrashing Austrian side Irdning 22-0.
This game will mark Wolves‘ first Premier League match in nine years. The Molineux side must put up a spirited fight after winning the Championship last season.
As the Portuguese bosses get set to square off, here is Everton’s predicted XI ahead of the epic clash.
England and Everton No. 1 Jordan Pickford has returned to training after his heroics for the Three Lions in Russia. He should feature for the season opener ahead of Maarten Stekelenburg.
Coleman has been sharp in preseason and should start at right-back.
With Mason Holgate sidelined with an injury and Ashley Williams loaned to Stoke City, veteran defender Phil Jagielka could start at the heart of the defence.
Keane will partner with Jagielka at centre-back. He must focus on making recovery runs should opposition forwards sprint past his 35-year-old partner.
Despite having Digne in the mix, Baines might receive a start to help Digne gradually adjust to life in the Premier League.
Everton’s midfielders are quite flexible. There can either be two holding midfielders and one pushed up behind the striker or just one sat deep with two positioned further up the field. Everton have used the former in pre-season, meaning Schneiderlin start and patrol the area in front of the defence.
Everton’s destroyer could feature in a defensive midfield partnership with Schneiderlin. Full of energy and hard on the tackle, Gueye must stop opposition attacks while orchestrating Everton’s attacks from deep.
The Iceland international should start as the No. 10. He will be Everton’s creative force in the central attacking midfield role.
Based on availability, Sandro Ramirez and Nikola Vlasic are the only players available to start out on the right flank. Sandro has started every pre-season game since returning a loan spell with Sevilla. With Theo Walcott recovering from an ankle injury, Ramirez could get the nod ahead of Yannick Bolasie.
Richarlison must start out on the left flank. The Brazilian must aim to justify his price tag in his first competitive outing since joining the blue half of Merseyside.
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The Turkey international should start up top since Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out nursing a back injury.
