James Tarkowski decision made as Frank Lampard hints at Everton system change
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© Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – JULY 20: The shirts of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anthony Gordon of Everton before the pre-season friendly match between Minnesota United and Everton at Allianz Field on July 20, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Frank Lampard has named a strong Everton line-up to take on Minnesota United in the second and final match of the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
The Blues have made four changes from the team that took on Arsenal in Baltimore at the weekend, with James Tarkowski being handed his first start since arriving from Burnley earlier in the transfer window. Anthony Gordon, Alex Iwobi and Michael Keane are the other players brought into the line-up from the start for this match.
Everton look to have switched to a four-at-the-back system for their second US match, having used three centre-backs in both halves against the Gunners on Saturday. Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko have kept their places in the full back areas.
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Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tom Davies look to be the two midfielders sat in front of that defensive line, with Iwobi perhaps playing a little further forward in his natural attacking midfield role. He’s set to be flanked by Gordon and Demarai Gray, with the latter starting his second match in a row of the summer.
Leading the line at the top of the pith once again is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will no doubt be keen on getting more chances in front of goal than he did at the weekend. It’s not yet clear whether Everton will change their whole side at half time once again, with a number of strong options for Lampard to consider on the bench.
Everton XI: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Doucoure, Davies, Iwobi; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Gray
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