As quickly as they were crushed 4-0 on Saturday, Everton are straight back into action tonight, with the Toffees returning to Goodison Park to host Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Entering the second round of the competition, they are expected to brush aside the League Two side, who they ironically faced at this stage of this very tournament this time last year.
Then, the EFL minnows took the lead, and it was not until Beto was introduced that they managed a late turnaround.
Hopefully, Sean Dyche will go with enough strength, skill and quality to ensure that the result is far more secure this time around.
With that in mind, here’s the predicted XI for Everton’s latest clash.
Predicted Everton XI vs Doncaster Rovers in EFL Cup
It has been an arduous opening two Premier League fixtures for the Toffees, who have shipped seven with no reply against Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur.
So, Dyche will want to both rotate, but also afford his players more game time to get up to speed and gain confidence too.
With that in mind, a first-choice lineup is expected, even if they are still contending with injuries.
During their cup runs, Jordan Pickford has almost always retained his starting spot, and he will sit behind a back four only narrowly changed from Saturday.
James Tarkowski was a huge doubt for that trip to north London, and perhaps this might offer a fine opportunity for him to rest, replaced by new signing Jake O’Brien.
He will partner Michael Keane, and will be flanked by Roman Dixon and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Tim Iroegbunam and Idrissa Gana Gueye, due to a lack of competition, will continue in the midfield together too.
However, with Dyche having promised that the new men will all play, a new-look attack is expected, and much-needed.
First starting on the flanks, Dwight McNeil has looked seriously leggy to start the season, and could retain his spot as the 53-year-old seeks to ignite his season.
Elsewhere, we can expect full debuts for Jesper Lindstrom out wide and Iliman Ndiaye through the middle, with this duo hopefully going to bring an attacking impetus that has been sorely lacking.
Meanwhile, Beto will likely earn his first start of the season too, thus dropping the exit linked Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Rumours over his future are rife, as Calvert-Lewin has still refused to sign a new contract. A strong performance from his Portuguese alternative could spur Kevin Thelwell to push the Englishman towards the exit door this summer.
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