Mitrovic benched for Fulham as Richarlison returns for Everton

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.7m) had appeared to be another international break casualty for Fantasy Premier League bosses in Gameweek 9.

Having been on Serbia duty following Fulham’s calamitous penalty situation involving Ademola Lookman (£5.0m) back in Gameweek 8, Mitrovic finds himself on the bench for Everton’s visit on Sunday afternoon.

However, when asked by BBC Sport if the decision to demote Mitrovic was related to fitness or tactics, Scott Parker responded:

Mainly tactical, really. Obviously Aleks has come back from international duty.

The team I’ve decided to go with today is a team that I feel can hurt Everton, can cause them problems.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid (£5.3m) looks set to lead the Fulham line ahead of an attacking midfield trio of Lookman, Tom Cairney (£5.3m) and Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.3m).

Having missed the last three gameweeks through suspension, Richarlison (£7.8m) returns to the Everton starting line-up.

On the Brazilian attacker’s absence coinciding with a poor run of form for the Toffees, Ancelotti stated in his pre-match press conference:

We didn’t lose because Richarlison wasn’t there. He’s a striker and the problem we had was that we didn’t defend properly.

He’s really important for us, a top player and it’s important to have him.

He has everything, I think he can reach the top level in football. He’s still young but a really humble guy, I think he can be at the top soon.

The Everton manager could possibly be going for a formation switch at Craven Cottage, with Alex Iwobi (£5.9m) included in the Toffees’ XI along with Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£7.8m) and James Rodriguez (£7.9m).

The Italian also had some interesting words on Rodriguez’s position on Friday.

“His position is number 10. It doesn’t matter if he is a little to the right, his best position is to the front. It doesn’t matter in the middle or to the right. Every game he has played in the front.” – Carlo Ancelotti

Ben Godfrey (£5.0m) deputises at right-back for the injured Seamus Coleman (£4.9m), with natural full-back Jonjoe Kenny (£4.3m) not in the matchday sqaud.

Fulham XI: Areola; A Robinson, Adarabioyo, Andersen, Aina; Reed, Lemina; Lookman, Cairney Cavaleiro; De Cordova-Reid.

Everton XI: Pickford; Digne, Keane, Mina, Godfrey; Iwobi, Allan, Doucouré; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Rodriguez.