The Premier League weekend begins with a major match at Hill Dickinson Stadium at 12.30pm today (Saturday) as Everton face fellow high flyers Chelsea. Victory for either side would lift them into the top four ahead of the 3pm kick-offs.
Chelsea are considered favourites after another summer of lavish spending under new boss Xabi Alonso. But the Stamford Bridge outfit rarely have it easy on visits to the blue half of Merseyside and were thrashed 3-0 by David Moyes' men in last season's corresponding clash.
However, it will take another incredible Everton performance to repeat that result. With fitness concerns over Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko and Christian Norgaard, every member of Moyes' tight-knit squad could be needed.
Connor O'Neill's selection
Picking a team for this afternoon's game is incredibly difficult given we don't know if Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko are going to feature. However, in a bid to stay positive, the pair are going to be included in the side I select.
Jordan Pickford will no doubt start in goal, with James Tarkowski, Branthwaite and Mykolenko making up three of the back four. I would also bring in Jake O'Brien from the cold to start at right-back in place of Ainsley Maitland-Niles after his shocker against Hull City last weekend.
Meanwhile, Tyrique George should also start on the right, with Jack Grealish getting the nod on the other flank. In the middle, it would be James Garner, Harrison Armstrong and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with Thierno Barry up top.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O'Brien, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
Chris Beesley's selection
Everton appear to have a couple of defensive doubts for the visit of Chelsea but ultimately I would expect that Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko are both passed fit to play.
Manager David Moyes told reporters in his pre-match press conference to preview the trip to Hull City that Ukraine international Mykolenko had a chance of making the game at the MKM Stadium six days ago, so surely the club's only senior left-back will be okay for this fixture.
Despite some imperious form at centre-back so far this season to earn an England recall, Branthwaite was the player who drew the short straw and was asked to be the square peg in a round hole at left-back against the Tigers and it seemed clear that he was struggling physically at times as well as positionally. Hopefully 'The Carlisle Kaiser' has shaken that off and is able to return to his preferred position in the heart of the backline, ahead of Michael Keane.
Despite his assist for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's headed goal last time out, Ainsley Maitland-Niles must realise his place in the starting line-up could be under threat after being caught out in the build-up to both Hull's goals and had the Blues been facing a lesser opponent then I'd have been tempted to drop him and restore Merlin Rohl. However, given the attacking riches that Chelsea boast, I'm inclined to keep an orthodox right-back and natural defender in the role.
Where I would be looking to make a potential switch is further forwards on that side of the pitch. Brennan Johnson's inability to position himself in an onside position has cost Everton two goals - including one that he netted - in their last couple of matches and after an otherwise quiet display from the Wales international in East Yorkshire, I'd give his place to Tyrique George, eligible to play against his former club for the first time as the Londoner has a point to prove.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Armstrong; George, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Barry.
