Huddersfield Town travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton today. It’s a game that gives Town an opportunity to turn around their recent poor form and get their first win of the season under their belt. Everton won’t be easy to beat though, as they’re enjoying a honeymoon period under new manager, Marco Silva.
Here’s how I think Town will line up for the game…
Tactics: 4-2-3-1
David Wagner may be tempted to try a more defensive lineup and to look to contain Everton, but I hope he does the opposite. We need to build our confidence, and a tedious 0-0 won’t provide that. We need to go for the throat from the first whistle and not let Everton settle for a moment. That’s why I think we need to play 4-2-3-1, which two proper wingers and a number ten behind the main striker.
Everton’s players are still adjusting to Silva’s tactics and can look vulnerable when they play the ball out from the back. If we press them high up the field then we can force errors that could lead to goals for Town.
Goalkeeper: Jonas Lössl
This one is easy, as Ben Hamer’s injury will rule him out until after the international break. Young Ryan Schofield will get a place on the bench and will make his Premier League debut if anything goes wrong with Lössl.
I’m pleased that Lössl has returned to the starting XI, as I still see him as our best keeper. Hamer is providing competition for the jersey, but his injury gives Jonas the chance to take back the starting slot.
Defence: Smith, Zanka, Schindler, Kongolo
I don’t think there’s much to choose between Hadergjonaj and Smith, but I’d be tempted to give Flo a rest this weekend and give Smith a chance to prove himself at right-back. I think Hadergjonaj is a great player, but he’s had a couple of poor performances lately, so it may help him to sit this one out.
Zanka and Schindler should be kept on as our main central pairing, which means Kongolo carries on in his role as a left-back. I’ve commented in the past about how Kongolo isn’t a natural left-back and looks better in central defence, but that wasn’t true last weekend where he stood out as our best player. His marauding runs down the left were the only time I thought we looked dangerous against Cardiff.
Midfield: Mooy and Billing
Hogg starts the second game of his three-match ban against Everton (thanks to Dan at ComeOnYouBlues.com for pointing out the first game of his suspension was served in the cup on Tuesday), so the midfield two are likely to be Mooy and Billing. I’d like to see Williams getting a chance soon, but he played in the cup game at Stoke, so isn’t likely to be fit enough to play two games in a week. The same can be said for Juninho Bacuna, who scored a spectacular own goal in the dying moments of the 2-0 defeat to Stoke on Tuesday.
Despite Bacuna and Williams being likely to be ruled out there are alternatives in other parts of the squad. Hadergjonaj has already played in central midfield this season, as have Sabiri and Stankovic. I don’t like seeing square pegs in round holes though, so hopefully we’ll stick to Mooy and Billing.
Wingers and number 10: Diakhaby, Pritchard, VLP
It was surprising when Pritchard was omitted from the starting team against Cardiff last weekend, so I hope he’ll be given a chance today. We need a creative spark in the final third, and Pritchard has the ability to make an incisive run or play a defense-splitting pass.
On the flanks I’d like to see Diakhaby given a run out, as his pace could cause Leighton Baines a lot of problems down Everton’s left flank. Rajiv van La Parra is my other selection in the wide positions. He had a decent game against Cardiff, and his counter-attacking runs are valuable away from home, as he can take pressure of our defence by running the ball up the field.
Striker: Mounié
Goals are proving hard to come by this season, so it may be tempting to freshen things up at the top of the team and bring in Deptoire. I’d still want to see Mounié given the nod, as he’s our most potent threat in front of goal, and (as we so often say) hasn’t received decent service in recent games.
Everton predicted lineup – courtesy of Dan at ComeOnYouBlues.com
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Here’s the starting XI that Dan at comonyoublues.com thinks Everton will line up with against Town:
Goalkeeper: Pickford
Defence: Coleman, Holgate, Zouma, Baines
Midfield: Davies, Schneiderlin
Attacker: Walcott, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin
Striker: Tosun
You can read my preview of the game from a Town perspective over on ComeOnYourBlues.com – thanks to Dan asking me to contribute.
Injuries and suspensions are already mounting up, so thankfully Town won’t have to worry about Richarlison continuing his fine start to his Everton career as his red card last weekend rules him out of this one. In my opinion we need to be most worried about Walcott’s pace and Sigurdsson’s ability on the ball.