Beto of Everton celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and West Ham United at Goodison Park on March 02, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Emma Simpson - Everton FC/Everton FC via Getty Images)

Everton line-ups for Man Utd as decisions made over Beto and defensive reshuffle

Our Everton writers have named their preferred XIs for the clash with Manchester United on Saturday in the Premier League

by · Liverpool Echo

Everton line-ups for Manchester United as decisions made over Beto and defensive reshuffle

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Joe Thomas - Beto keeps place over Calvert-Lewin

Beto is chaos and defences find it hard to deal with him. Just look at his last two appearances - a late cameo at Brighton where he had a one-on-one and last week’s start, in which he missed another one-on-one and a penalty but crucially scored the first meaningful goal from an Everton striker since October. He is still adapting to English football and it is easy and justified to focus on his misses, but not without first acknowledging his role in the creation of those chances.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is more refined and, I think, Everton’s best striker. But Beto should keep his place today and against a Manchester United midfield and defence that has lacked stability all season, he could be a chaos factor who causes real problems.

Throw in Abdoulaye Doucoure’s insatiable appetite to get involved and I think Everton can create chances at Old Trafford. Whether they can take them is the real question - along with whether they can stunt a team that was ruthlessly efficient at Goodison Park. Key to Everton, for me, is a change at right back.

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I think today is a good occasion to turn to Seamus Coleman’s experience as it could be useful to trying to deal with the wide threat he will probably face from Alejandro Garnacho.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Garner, Onana, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil; Beto

Chris Beesley - Coleman comes back in

Beto became the 23rd player out of 31 takers to miss a Premier League penalty for Everton last time out against West Ham United but then went on to get his goal with a second half header so I'd expect him to retain his place spearheading the attack rather than Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has now not registered in 21 matches.

There's not much scope to make changes in the Blues midfield with Sean Dyche declaring in his pre-match press conference that Idrissa Gueye - absent against the Hammers through injury - was "unlikely" while Andre Gomes is crocked yet again. However, the one area of the team that has been a moveable feast for Everton this term, the right-back berth remains up for grabs.

After starting just once in the Premier League this season before the end of January, Ben Godfrey, a self-confessed natural centre-back, has done quite well as a round peg in a square hole being deployed there for the last half dozen matches but with Dyche having no fewer than three specialised right-backs on the bench against David Moyes' men and Godfrey the fall guy who was beaten in the air for Kurt Zouma's equaliser, has the time come for a change?

Filling in over at left-back in this corresponding fixture last year, Godfrey was hooked at half-time after a torrid 45 minute and to spare him another chasing here, I'd restore the club captain who has played more times in the right-back position - or indeed any position - for Everton in the Premier League.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Coleman, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Garner, Onana, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil; Beto

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