Everton will face Manchester City in the Premier League on Boxing Day at the Etihad Stadium, and Sean Dyche will look to pick up another positive result.
The Toffees are undefeated in their last three games, and picked up crucial points against two London giants, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Richard Keys has branded Everton as “boring”, but the Toffees fans will not mind as long as they keep on picking up important points.
They are up against Pep Guardiola’s Man City, who have won just once in their last 12 games, losing nine times in all competitions during that period.
Everton have picked up only one win this season away from home, but it could be the best time to face City, considering the form they are in.
Predicted Everton XI v Manchester City – Dyche could make three changes
Dyche confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Dwight McNeil remains “touch and go”, and he doesn’t expect the attacking midfielder to play on Thursday.
In defence, Ashley Young is also absent as he serves a one-match ban following a fifth booking of the campaign against Chelsea.
Luckily for Everton and Dyche, both Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson are fit and available. The Toffees boss is most likely to choose Coleman over Patterson because of his experience and leadership abilities.
James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaly Mykolenko should all start at the back, along with Jordan Pickford in goal.
In midfield, the trio of Idrissa Gueye, Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure made life difficult for both the London clubs, and they will look to do the same against City.
Jack Harrison was given chances in back-to-back games, but he failed to make an impact. Dyche must drop him and use Jesper Lindstrom on the right wing.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has not found the net since 14 September, and the 27-year-old is likely to lose his place to Armando Broja, who was ineligible to play against his parent club, Chelsea, in the previous game.
Broja impressed in a cameo appearance against the Gunners, and he should be fit now to lead the line against City.
Predicted Everton XI v Man City: Pickford, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Coleman, Mangala, Doucoure, Gueye, Ndiaye, Lindstrom, Broja.