da spicy bet： Everton will look to improve their chances of securing a seventh-place finish in the Premier League this season when they face Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
da leao： Some disappointing results on the road had put the Toffees’ chances of finishing as the best of the rest in jeopardy, but they have still been picking up results on their own patch and a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace last time out saw them move up to ninth position.
Goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson, Oumar Niasse and Tom Davies took the Merseyside outfit two points adrift of seventh-place Burnley, who are without a win since December 12.
They come up against a Watford side who have been something of a Jekyll and Hyde outfit in recent weeks, beating Chelsea 4-1 at home at the start of February before they put in a disappointing display when they lost 2-0 against West Ham United at the London Stadium last time out.
Allardyce will know that his team need to improve on the road if they are to end the campaign in seventh, and having made some big changes to his starting XI against the Eagles previously, he will perhaps need to make some more in Hertfordshire to give his side the best possible chance of picking up a vital three points.
Here is how Everton must line up when they face Watford on Saturday, ahead of Jordan Pickford in goal…
Defence
Sam Allardyce experimented with a three-man defence in the 5-1 defeat against Arsenal in Everton’s previous away match in the Premier League, and he is unlikely to pick that again anytime soon given they found themselves 4-0 down at half-time before the 63-year-old changed things in the second-half.
The former England boss will be forced to make at least one change to his back four against Watford though with loanee Eliaquim Mangala set to miss the rest of the season after picking up a knee injury against Crystal Palace, with Ashley Williams likely to come in.
Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman is also a doubt having gone off at half-time against the Eagles, and he will likely be replaced by Jonjoe Kenny at Vicarage Road.
Midfield
Allardyce decided to go with a central midfield three of Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies and Wayne Rooney at home to Crystal Palace, but the 63-year-old should go with a slightly more defensive trio against Watford to avoid them being as open as they were in the 4-0 and 5-1 defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal already in 2018.
Davies got on the score-sheet against the Eagles but he should be replaced by Morgan Schneiderlin at Vicarage Road, with Allardyce seemingly still a big admirer of the Frenchman even if he isn’t a fans’ favourite right now – he has already been booed by the Goodison Park faithful earlier this month.
The 28-year-old will provide a bit more protection for what has been a leaky backline on the road, and that could be key to picking up a vital three points against the Hornets.
Attack
Allardyce chose a front three of Theo Walcott, Oumar Niasse and Gylfi Sigurdsson against the Eagles last time out, and with the latter two getting on the score-sheet and Walcott scoring twice in the 2-1 win against Leicester City earlier this month, they should be the first-choice attack right now and start again against Watford.
Yannick Bolasie is still struggling to get back to his best following his return from a long-term injury, while Cenk Tosun may not be risked from the start against until later in the campaign with his manager saying he is struggling to adapt to the pace of the Premier League and the English weather.
Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.