Marco Silva will need to prepare two different tactical arrangements against Burnley, after Sean Dyche indicated he could use one of two formations against the Blues.
The Toffees face the Clarets at Turf Moor on Saturday, with Silva keen to get his side back on track after suffering defeat to Manchester City.
Burnley drew 2-2 with Aston Villa in their most recent outing, and Dyche has suggested that his side could keep the same shape against Everton.
Usually a team that play 4-4-2, Dyche’s side lined up in a 4-3-3 arrangement against Villa last week, which paid off at Villa Park.
Twice the travelling side came from behind to frustrate the Villans, and Dyche could look to do the same against the Toffees.
Against Villa, Burnley operated with Jay Rodriguez and Ashley Barnes flanking Chris Wood in the centre, with Dwight McNeil and Jeff Hendrick sat in midfield, anchored by a deeper Ashley Westwood.
Dyche has dropped hints though that while 4-4-2 seems like the most likely formation to face Everton, he could elect to maintain a 4-3-3 set-up instead. Dyche said (via Lancs Live):
It calmed the game down. I don’t want to be too big time about it because the players delivered it. We haven’t done loads on it because I have let it naturally unfold but we did it in pre-season and we did it at Brighton.
We know Jay can play off one side and we know that Barnesy can do it, he played a lot of football coming off the left for Brighton. We know it is there and we can use it when we need it.
We know Dwight can come inside and Jeff (Hendrick) certainly can. Westy or Corky can play in the deeper role.
The thing I was pleased with was that it was whether we locked down their sitting midfielder or we played with one and we decided to leave theirs and go and get the ball.
I was pleased with that I thought it was quite evident that we started playing, probing and calming the game down with the ball wile still trying to affect things. The players deserve credit.
Read Everton Verdict
I think that the Burnley game could be the make it or break game for Marco Silva. While some fans, ridiculously, think that the Manchester City result wasn’t good enough, I think Burnley is the crunch point, the time where we need to see the players make it count.
Everton’s next three Premier League games are against Burnley, West Ham and Brighton, and the club need to be picking up points. All isn’t lost this season, but unless the players can find their footing, it could be another wasted campaign.
