A look at the potential changes to the starting 11 that David Moyes could make for Everton's last day trip to Tottenham Hotspur
While their own European hopes are now dangling by the narrowest of threads and realistically they’re now playing for snookers, Everton must also consider the relegation battle when it comes to their team selection at Tottenham Hotspur.
If Chelsea defeat Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night then the David Moyes’ men fading hopes for continental competition would be officially extinguished. The west London outfit travel to Sunderland on the last day, so one of the two would be guaranteed to finish above the Blues.
So, even if Everton won handsomely and Brentford were beaten heavily at Liverpool, to turn around the current five goal deficit in goal difference between themselves and the Bees, they would be unable to climb into eighth place. Also, if Chelsea win, then it keeps Spurs fighting for survival going into the last day.
OPINION
Curiously if Roberto De Zerbi’s side were to triumph, or even draw given that they have a goal difference that is 13 better than that of West Ham United, then, while the Blues would not be mathematically out of the hunt, then they would not have to concern themselves with being fair to the Hammers and avoiding experimentation.
Either way, after Jake O’Brien’s struggles in the 3-1 home defeat to Sunderland on Sunday, there are question marks over the Republic of Ireland international. Will he be fit to play against Tottenham Hotspur, and if so, could he be moved to centre-back in place of either James Tarkowski or Michael Keane?
If O’Brien is ruled out or moved into the heart of defence then either Nathan Patterson or Seamus Coleman could step in at right-back but with the former now surplus to requirements and the latter having announced his departure as an Everton player, neither would be a forward-thinking move. Perhaps James Garner could even be asked to reprise his right-back role and move from central midfield?
Maybe Adam Aznou could even making a long-awaited Premier League debut at left-back in place of Vitalii Mykolenko? While Idrissa Gueye remains a fitness doubt for Spurs, if Garner was to move into defence then the likes of Harrison Armstrong, Charly Alcaraz, or even Merlin Rohl who started on the right wing against the Black Cats and netted his first goal in English football, before being moved into the engine room, could step in.
Armstrong, Alcaraz and Dwight McNeil would also be potential options both for wide roles with Iliman Ndiaye having struggled in recent weeks, or even as the number 10 with the form of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall having also dipped. Up front, Beto has been spearheading the attack in recent weeks when fit but after being on a job share with Thierno Barry all season, Moyes could always plump for the Frenchman as the curtain comes down.