OPINION
There is no doubting that Everton’s defeat to Newcastle last weekend was as embarrassing for the fans as well as the team. That is a fact.
The manner in which they let their 2-0 lead slip to end up losing 3-2 must have been demoralising, but it is time for them to pick themselves up for their clash against Chelsea on Sunday.
In order to have the best possible chance of getting some sort of result tomorrow afternoon, boss Marco Silva must make three changes to the side that lost last Saturday.
In goal, Jordan Pickford must start as normal despite his behaviour that afternoon.
The central defensive pairing of Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane was not the best we have seen from them this season, but seeing as there is no other decent choices for this position, Silva will have stick with it. Lucas Digne was the best player out of a bad bunch on Saturday, while Jonjoe Kenny – who had to fill in at the last minute after Seamus Coleman fell ill – must be axed after finding himself out of position too many times.
Idrissa Gueye had a fairly decent game, but the same could not be said for his teammate Andre Gomes. He was average in the first half, but things seemed to go from bad to worse in the second half. This is why he must be axed in favour of Morgan Schneiderlin, who was unfairly dropped from the team last time out.
Bernard was not at his best on Saturday, but he is a far better option to have than Theo Walcott at the moment, while Richarlison impressed through his directness and energy. Gylfi Sigurdsson did not have a good day in the slightest – the £100,000-a-week [Spotrac] player was woeful in what was one of his quietest displays, and he must be dropped in favour of Ademola Lookman.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the line well on Saturday after his superb header, so he must start up front once again on Sunday.
If Silva makes the right choices regarding his starting XI, then there is no doubt that his team would be able to defy the odds against Chelsea.
