OPINION
Everton manager Marco Silva must axe Theo Walcott if he wants to name his best starting line-up for the clash against Manchester City at the Etihad at Saturday lunchtime.
Walcott, 29, has been in woeful form lately and is not offering anywhere near enough for someone who is earning £110,000-a-week (Spotrac) at Goodison Park.
It would make a lot of sense to start Ademola Lookman on the right-wing instead of Walcott because he is someone with a massive point to prove, and there is a good reason to let him try to do that against Man City because they are the team he scored against when making his Everton debut in 2017.
Out-of-form Bernard should also be dropped from the side so that Richarlison can drop back onto the left-wing and Cenk Tosun can start up front to hopefully give the Toffees a bit more of an attacking outlet and help them relieve the pressure that Man City are bound to pile on them.
Jordan Pickford needs to start in goals and Silva should name an unchanged back-four of Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne to start in front of the England international.
Idrissa Gueye is a doubt, according to the Evening Standard, but if he is fit enough then he has to start alongside Andre Gomes in the central midfield positions.
Lookman and Richarlison must start on either side of Gylfi Sigurdsson in the No 10 role and Tosun should make a return to the starting line-up as the lone striker.
If Silva picks this starting line-up then he will be able to shock Man City and walk away from the Etihad with a point.
The reigning Premier League champions will be on a downer after losing to Chelsea last week and their narrow midweek win against Hoffenheim in the Champions League won’t have helped regain any momentum, but only made the players’ legs feel heavier.
Everton are due a win, and it is time that they go to the Etihad and surprise everyone.