Dugout Discussion

Rodriguez returns to Everton line-up as Greenwood misses out for Manchester United

James Rodriguez (£7.9m) is back in the Everton starting line-up after missing the past two gameweeks through injury.

The Colombian has so far racked up 34 points in three home games, including one 18-point haul against Brighton in Gameweek 4.

Rodriguez is set to operate on the right of a front three for the Toffees, with Bernard (£5.8m) playing from the left in the absence of the suspended Richarlison (£7.8m).

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m), fresh from an overnight price rise, leads the line for Everton.

Seamus Coleman (£4.9m) is another injury returnee at right-back, while Lucas Digne (£6.1m) resumes his place on the other side of defence following a reduced one-game ban.

The fit-again Mason Holgate (£4.8m) is preferred at centre-back over Yerry Mina (£5.5m). Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) returns between the sticks for the Toffees, having been dropped in favour of Robin Olsen (£4.5m) in Gameweek 7.

Ancelotti made it clear in is pre-match press conference yesterday that Pickford would come back into the Everton XI.

On the pitch he [Pickford] has to be focused on what he’s doing. He has to know where his quality is. He knows what to do tomorrow. His mentality is good, I don’t want to change it.

I think sometimes he made mistakes because he thought too much. He has to use his instinct more, which is really good. – Carlo Ancelotti

Anthony Martial (£8.7m), back from a three-game suspension, begins up front for Manchester United.

Mason Greenwood (£7.2m) is absent from the Red Devils’ matchday squad so Juan Mata (£5.9m) earns a start in attacking midfield.

The Spaniard could play from the right or centrally, potentially interchanging with Bruno Fernandes (£10.5m), while Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) looks set to face off against Coleman from his usual left-side attacking berth.

Alex Telles (£5.5m) is back in training but does not make the 18, while Paul Pogba (£7.8m) is on the United bench.

Victor Lindelof (£4.9m) has recovered from a back injury to take up his spot in central defence beside Harry Maguire (£5.4m).

Victor is feeling okay in his back, hopefully he can last the game because he has had trouble with it. The energy of Scott McTominay and Fred after not playing this midweek [in the Champions League] will help us. – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

On Richarlison, who will return for the Toffees’ sweet clash away to Fulham in GW9, Ancelotti said last night:

it is impossible to replace Richarlison. There is no player in the world like Richarlison. So we have to replace him with another player with different quality.

We have to change a little bit our style of play without Richarlison, but the defeat [against Newcastle] was not because Richarlison was not there. It was because we did not play well. Simple.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, was full of praise for the Everton manager when quizzed by BT Sport on his decision to join the Merseyside outfit.

I needed to play under a coach who knows me; how I behave on and off the pitch. Carlo was exactly what I needed for coming to this club.

It was because of both reasons [Carlo and the club] that I moved here. They trusted me when no one else did. I;ll be forever grateful to the club and to Carlo. – James Rodriguez

Everton XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Digne, Keane, Holgate, Coleman; Sigurdsson, Allan, Doucouré; Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Rodriguez.

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, B Fernandes, Mata; Martial.

1,173 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    how is that not even a yellow? english refs are absolute garbage

  2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mata messes up rashford assist

  3. G00LI0
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Will that DCL assist be scratched off?

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Don't see why it would

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      christ, no..

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No chance

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      no

    5. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It should be. Its not been given on sky and other sites. FPL on their own agenda. Reckon it will be

    6. Gandalf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      If he didn't touch it then seems wrong to let it stand. Only seen the footage from afar and not sure if there was a clear close up or not

      1. Van der Vaart 11
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I am a DCL owner and think it shouldn't count tbh it looked pretty clear he didn't get a touch and Lindelof did.
        I will take the 3 points however 🙂

    7. G00LI0
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      It's not given on Premier league.com so suspect it will be removed

  4. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If Bruno scores a hatty from open play... the world is upside down

  5. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Get Mata off... what's he done today or any other day for that matter?

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      he writes blogs

  6. Birds of Prey
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    How many fouls have there been in this game? Fernandes gives as good as he gets.

  7. Peter Ouch
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Ffs Rashford is trying so hard not to score.

    Last game vs brom and then switch to kdb

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Another day and it's a hattie...

      1. Peter Ouch
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        How many days should I've been waiting...

  8. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    James scared to shoot.

  9. mookie
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1325075537790787584

    Alioski at N°10?

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      LB probably

  10. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Dallas in mid-line?
    Should have played him

    1. Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yes

      • Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        nope LB

    2. Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Dallas oop

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          LB isn't oop

          1. The Mighty Whites
            • 9 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            CM

          2. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Bielsa plays 343 against teams that play 442, because it is the opposing formation.

            1. Pukki Blinders
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              ah yes of course

        2. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Lineup pic suggest back 4?

      • g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Bernard row zzzzzzz

      • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        James coming off

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Wtf

          1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Tosun coming on

            1. Top Lad Dakes.
              • 7 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Ffsss

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hamez G DCL A would be lovely about now

      • Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Rodriguez should grow a beard

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          he can't

          1. Zimo
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Sad

      • Boomerang V
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I did Pulisic to Bruno, but to enable it I had to do Jimi to Wilson for a hit so... I am still not sure if it was a good move but I do feel less disturbed about it now 🙂

      • George Agdgdgwngo
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Everyone will be doing son > Bruno

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Let them, i may be able to get both if I ditch Kane

          1. George Agdgdgwngo
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Kane is the one to one rather than son

        2. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Wouldn't mind that as a Son owner. Will make him a differential again.

      • g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Hamez off

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Tosun on

      • Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        No decent football till half 5 now

        1. dark91
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Yes Der klassiker should bring some good football

      • how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Tosun gags incoming for the first time in a while

      • Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Rodriguez has been useless for me. Can't sell before Fulham, though...

      • Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        A DCL G will have to do then...

      • g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Pogba coming on

        1. Dannyb
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Man United draw confirmed.

      • Zilla
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Where's James off coming from?

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Leaving now

          1. Zilla
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Yeah but didn't know Tosun Hames is a known sub

          2. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Live commentary

      • Zimo
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Palace are gonna get destroyed today aren't they

      • 272MK
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Having double defenders really just makes you worry more than necessary.

        How to cope.

        Had Zouma, brought in Chilwell coz I remembered statsitically he was amazing

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          But also u feel better having 2 when they keep the clean sheet.

        2. Jolly Good
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          I have chillwell captain so same boat

      • how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Allan has massive shorts

        1. Royal5
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Lol

      • Stupendous
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Guaranteed Hames drop. You've got 90 mins left for me this season mate.

        1. Zimo
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Sadly looking like 2 or 3 drops.

      • Birds of Prey
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Prefer Adams or Watkins next week?

      • how now brown cow
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Iwobi's looked quite decent. Never said that before.