Everton team news for Man City as Mason Holgate makes surprise start

Mason Holgate starts at left back for Everton as the defender takes the place of Vitalii Mykolenko.

The 26-year-old starts for the first time since the trip to Crystal Palace last month – a game that finished goalless but in which he was sent off for two yellow cards. Mykolenko is absent from the squad.

His introduction is the only change from the side that dismantled Brighton in a performance built on a fast start that saw the Blues take the lead in less than 40 seconds at the Amex Stadium.

Abdoulaye Doucoure’s opening goal came at a similar time to the match winner last time Everton clinched victory at Goodison Park – the 1-0 win over Brentford in March that was built upon Dwight McNeil’s first minute strike.

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Dyche will be hoping for another fast start against treble-chasing Manchester City as he searches for a win that would put Everton on the cusp of Premier League safety.

He looks set to retain the 4-5-1 formation that has been the platform for the best performances since his appointment in late January, the attack spearheaded by Dominic Calvert-Lewin. James Garner starts again in the centre of midfield while Yerry Mina and Nathan Patterson, who both earned their first starts under Dyche last time out, also keep their places. Amadou Onana and Demarai Gray are on the bench once again.

Dyche has named two goalkeepers – Asmir Begovic and Andy Lonergan – on a bench that does not include Tom Davies nor Ben Godfrey. Godfrey has been absent with a groin issue in recent weeks. Reece Welch, the academy centre back, gets his first involvement in a matchday squad under Dyche.

Starting XI: Pickford; Holgate, Tarkowski, Mina, Patterson; McNeil, Garner, Doucoure, Gueye, Iwobi; Dominic Calvert-Lewin

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