Beto and Danjuma could return for EvertonBy the end of today, Everton could have a tie with a third tier team separating the club from the semi-finals of a major cup competition. Just take that in for a second.
OK, Everton have history with Port Vale, but the Midlands side’s win over Mansfield last night means a favourable route to the last four is available to Everton.
That, combined with the significance of what is set to be an emotional night as the club plays at Goodison Park for the first time since the death of chairman Bill Kenwright, and the release of pressure in the Premier League after the win at West Ham United, means this is a game that should be treated seriously.
There is also the personal aside for Sean Dyche, as he manages against former side Burnley for the first time since his exit from Turf Moor last year.
So I’d go strong tonight. I’d make a few changes – I would use this as an opportunity to give Arnaut Danjuma the chance to make a claim for a starting place. He would come in on the right for Jack Harrison, for me. Ashley Young can come in on the left to save Vitalii Mykolenko for Brighton and Hove Albion.
And Idrissa Gueye, who I also think should start on the bench on Saturday, comes in for James Garner – again, just to freshen things up and provide opportunities to players who may feel they have a point to prove.
But that would be it. Normally I would say this is a perfect time for Joao Virginia and Beto to get a game. I like both and want both to get minutes. The wider narrative is too important for wholesale changes tonight though.
As much as I would love to see Sean Dyche name an unchanged side for tonight’s game, I can’t see it.
I expect the Everton boss to make changes from the side that beat West Ham United at the London Stadium at the weekend.
However, at the back, I expect Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko to keep their places, with Ben Godfrey coming in for James Tarkowski.
In midfield, I suspect Idrissa Gueye will replace Amadou Onana, and Arnaut Danjuma coming in for Abdoulaye Doucoure. That means James Garner, Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil all keep their places.
While up top, although he would no doubt love to lead the line once again, I think Beto will come in for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton haven’t won a trophy for 28 years – the longest silverware drought in the club’s history – but if they beat Burnley then they’re in the last eight of this season’s Carabao Cup with at least two of their seven potential opponents guaranteed to be lower division sides (Middlesbrough and Port Vale) so I’m convinced Sean Dyche won’t muck about too much with his line-up here.
Unlike Frank Lampard who disgracefully made a full 11 changes for the third round tie at Bournemouth last season – with the subsequent 4-1 thrashing proving to be the beginning of the end for him and the start of a slippery slope from which he could never recover – his successor Dyche has so far treated the competition with the respect it deserves.
Indeed, a couple of things I’ve read over the past 24 hours have convinced me to go even stronger than I was initially going to suggest.
After being sacked by the Clarets on Good Friday last year in somewhat acrimonious circumstances after being in charge for almost a decade, the Blues boss will want to put on a good show but there’s much more than mere personal pride at stake here.
In the pre-match package that Everton’s official statistician Gavin Buckland provides, he points out that Dyche has never reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup and has lost all three of his previous matches at this stage of the competition.
I was going to say this would be a decent opportunity for Beto to get a run-out and lead the line but after four goals in his last six matches, I’m encouraged by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s interview with my colleague Connor O’Neill where he speaks of his determination to win a trophy with Everton and says:
“Wednesday is an opportunity to continue on that journey. I enjoy playing in the Carabao. I’ve got a good record there, so no doubt I’ll hit the onion.”
As much as I’d love to see Everton go all in on the League Cup, head is going to rule heart with this team.
There were tired bodies all over the pitch at the end of Sunday’s win at West Ham and with a busy period coming up it feels right to give some jaded legs a rest.
That also may mean a change of system – not only because it worked well against Aston Villa in the last round, but due to the rotation options Sean Dyche could draft into the side.
As a result, a three-man defence could be utilised, with Ben Godfrey joining Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski at the back. Nathan Patterson needs games so can keep his place on the right, while Ashley Young comes in on the left to give Vitalii Mykolenko a break.
In midfield, Idrissa Gueye could also do with some minutes. He gets the nod alongside Amadou Onana and James Garner.
That means a front two of Beto and Arnaut Danjuma, who have both been consigned to the the bench in recent weeks. The differences they have as players should in theory result in a strong attacking partnership.
