Everton's final pre-season game sees them host Ligue 1 side Lille before the Premier League returns.
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Everton host Lille at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon in their final pre-season game of the summer.
The Toffees secured a 3-1 victory over fellow Premier League side Newcastle on Wednesday evening, producing a fantastic performance to instil some positivity back in the fanbase ahead of the return of Premier League action.
Thierno Barry, Iliman Ndiaye, and Tyrique George struck for Everton, with their young talent putting on a show for the travelling supporters up in Scotland.
It’s been a mixed pre-season for Everton, losing to Stuttgart and Stoke City, while picking up a win away to Dundee and Hamburg. The Merseyside club also drew with Bolton, and we now have just one friendly remaining before the real football begins.
It’s Everton first and only home friendly of the summer, and there’s just one week remaining until Premier League action returns.
The opposition
This could be Everton’s toughest fixture of pre-season, facing a Lille side whio finished in third position last season and qualified for the Champions League.
It’s been a quiet summer transfer window for the French outfit, signing Basar Onal, Loun Srdanovic, and Tanguy Nianzou. Managed by former Everton assistant coach Davide Ancelotti, Lille will be hoping for another successful season as they look to tackle Champions League and Ligue 1 football.
This, on paper, should be Lille’s toughest test of pre-season so far too. They defeated OH Leuven last time out 6-3, with brother of superstar Kylian Mbappe, Ethan Mbappe, scoring twice.
There will be plenty of recognisable players on show, including World Cup superstar Ayyoub Bouaddi, experienced forward Olivier Giroud, and my one to watch, talented youngster Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Team news
Tim Iroegbunam, who has been heavily linked with a move to Hull City, looks set to miss out. The midfielder has suffered an injury, which has reportedly blocked a potential move to Hull in the summer transfer window.
Everton confirmed that Jarrad Branthwaite was missing from their game against Newcastle as part of his rehabilitation programme, but he should be ready to face Lille.
James Garner remains out injured, while Brennan Johnson has been seen training with the squad following his move from Crystal Palace.
Christian Norgaard was missing from the game against Newcastle.
Predicted XI
Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Armstrong; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry.
As we get closer to the start of the Premier League season, this feels slightly easier to predict. With the injuries to Garner and Iroegbunam, it feels like it is likely to be a Harrison Armstrong and Hayden Hackney partnership in midfield.
Still no right-back signing means Jake O’Brien is likely to start there, while Branthwaite could come back in.
Jordan Pickford is likely to start so he gets at least one game in before the new season.