Everton knew what was coming against Luton as Ross Barkley truth clear

Two’s company?

Everton started with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto as a strike partnership and while some have been asking Sean Dyche questions over when he might use the pair together at various junctures this season, it appeared a curious choice to take the plunge here given what transpired on Luton Town’s previous visit to Goodison Park.

Back in September, Beto’s introduction on the hour mark saw him and Calvert-Lewin on the field together for the first time but the experiment was not a success. Despite having two strikers on the pitch, the team looked toothless and the visitors generally kept them both at arm’s length.

Over four months on and after numerous Finch Farm training sessions together to increase the understanding of each other’s games, Dyche decided to take the plunge again with the duo with his more-advanced central midfielders Abdoulaye Doucoure – Everton’s top scorer this season – and Andre Gomes, the match-winner in the third round replay against Crystal Palace last time out, both injured. Having come up from the Championship, Luton’s defenders will be well-versed at dealing with a couple of opposition big lads up front and again it was meat and drink for them.

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Set-piece woes

So that’s four goals from Luton Town at Goodison Park this season, all of them coming from set-pieces – it’s not like Everton didn’t know what was coming.

Whether it was one of their three corner-kicks or a free-kick headed in at the back post in September that proved to be the winner, the Hatters have dominated the Blues in dead ball situations in a rather alarming manner in