Everton take on Fulham this weekend in the Premier League and David Moyes has some decisions to make.
The Toffees are down in west London to face a Fulham side who sit just one place above them in the Premier League table.
Let’s hear your score predictions as Everton take on Fulham at Craven Cottage!
Debut goal for Tyrique George, anyone? 👀
A custom graphic showing recent Everton results vs Fulham.
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images
It’s a game both sides will be looking to win, to avoid losing ground in the hunt for European football.
Everton have drawn their last two games 1-1, so a return to winning ways on Saturday would be most welcome.
Fulham will no doubt provide a test, but there’s one player Everton – who have been given a 27.8% chance of victory by Opta – need to be particularly wary of.
And that man is Harry Wilson, a player Everton even enquired to sign in the January transfer window.
David Moyes should pin Jarrad Branthwaite on Harry Wilson
Jarrad Branthwaite playing for Everton.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Against Brighton, Moyes threw a curveball by starting all four of his centre-backs across a back four.
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Jake O’Brien operated at right-back, with Michael Keane coming into the middle to play next to James Tarkowski. And Branthwaite played out wide in place of the injured Vitality Mykolenko.
Mykolenko picked up a knock in training last week, but could well be available to face Fulham.
Even if that’s the case though, Moyes should consider sticking with Branthwaite at left-back.
It is probably not wise to be bringing Mykolenko back in for a showdown with Harry Wilson, who will likely be playing from the right side for Fulham.
David Moyes has surely got to throw George straight in from the start vs Fulham, hasn’t he!? 🤔
Let us know your thoughts in the comments…
A custom graphic showing Tyrique George.
Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
The Ukrainian will potentially be lacking that bit of match sharpness after missing out last weekend.
So Branthwaite might be a better option. He hasn’t looked too bad so far in terms of his own fitness after returning from injury. Against Brighton he pretty much played a full game which was promising.
We know how formidable Branthwaite is as a defender, so it actually might make sense for Moyes to keep him out wide to deal with the threat of Wilson, who has been outstanding for Fulham this season.
Everton should make summer move for Harry Wilson
A lot of Everton eyes will be on Wilson on Saturday, following reports that the club wanted to sign him in January.
Hopefully, Branthwaite can do a good job on him, but certainly Everton need to be looking to sign Wilson in the summer given his qualities and the fact he’ll be a free agent if he doesn’t extend his deal with Fulham.
Harry Wilson playing for Fulham.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Players who can change games in an instant are not all that common, but Wilson has that quality. He’s also very versatile, and now in his prime.
We’ve seen him produce the spectacular plenty of times over the years, and it would be a fantastic move by Everton to bring in a potential game-changer like him.
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