Everton could be forced into wildcard Liverpool selection as potential injury crisis develops

Everton manager Sean Dyche has some potential intriguing selection dilemmas for tonight’s Merseyside Derby.

The Blues boss is sweating on his striker options for his first game against Liverpool at Goodison Park. Beto is ruled out due to concussion protocols and doubts exist over Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Dyche said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday: “(We are) hopeful that he will be back for tomorrow. We will wait and see until tomorrow but we are hopeful on that one.”

If Everton’s number nine doesn’t make it, Dyche – who picked Ellis Simms to lead the line against the Reds at Anfield last season – might have to turn to rookie Youssef Chermiti or Arnaut Danjuma who recently returned to fitness. Otherwise he might be forced to throw in a wildcard at centre-forward with the likes of Amadou Onana or even Michael Keane offering left field options as auxiliary target men.

Onana will be hoping for a recall in his usual central midfield role where Andre Gomes and goalscorer Idrissa Gueye started against Nottingham Forest. He will also be vying for a spot with James Garner, who did come off the bench against the East Midlanders and played a part in the move for Everton’s second goal.

At right-back, Dyche must decide whether Ashley Young is worth a second start in four days. The 38-year-old responded to Forest complaints that he should have given away a penalty with a cheeky Justin Timberlake “Cry Me A River” post on social media but considering his advanced age, those near-misses and his sending off in the last derby, perhaps Dyche might be tempted to go with Ben Godfrey instead?