Our Everton fans here in the Transfer Tavern really are excited right now as they gear up for what could be a brilliant game against Tottenham this weekend.
The men from Goodison Park have certainly been handed a pretty tough start to proceedings with games away from home against Chelsea and Manchester City and, though they flopped against Chelsea, they were very unlucky against City.
For sure, then, the club is showing it is capable of mixing it up at the top of the league and if they can get one over on Spurs, people will really have to start taking them seriously.
This, then, is a big test at the start of the season for the Blues and Ronald Koeman will certainly be looking for his players to step up to the plate and be counted.
For sure, then, there is plenty to be excited about and, ahead of the game, our landlord has worked up the XI he thinks Koeman needs to play this weekend…
GK: Jordan Pickford
The Everton stopper picked up a minor knock on international duty but should be able to play this weekend.
That’s a boost, of course, with him by some stretch the club’s best goalkeeper.
CB: Michael Keane
Keane has enjoyed a solid start to the season with Everton and will now be eager to kick on.
He’s made the step up from Burnley seamlessly and that will certainly please Everton fans.
CB: Ashley Williams
Williams is still as solid as they come in the Premier League and is rightly a mainstay for Everton.
Had a great international break with Wales and will be looking to keep that buoyancy up for his club.
CB: Phil Jagielka
Jagielka is back in the side after looking as though he’d be out on his ear last season.
He’s in good form, too, and so deserves to keep his spot for the time being.
RWB: Mason Holgate
The youngster really is impressing at the moment and will be eager to play once again against Spurs.
The more he plays, the more he improves, and Seamus Coleman will be itching to try and compete with him.
CM: Morgan Schneiderlin
A class act in the middle of the park, Spurs will need to avoid him getting on the ball.
Likewise, Everton will be eager to see him getting the thing and spraying it about the park for the whole match.
CM: Idrissa Gueye
A top competitor right in the heat of battle.
His match up with the likes of Victor Wanyama could really prove decisive in this fixture.
LWB: Leighton Baines
Ever the professional, Baines has enjoyed a strong start to this campaign.
Some may suggest he’s getting over the hill a bit but he’s still performing well and will be looking forward to this latest big test.
RF: Wayne Rooney
Expect a goal from Rooney.
The forward always performs when his name has been splashed across the tabloids and with the latest accusations coming to light he’s bound to produce the goods.
LF: Gylfi Sigurdsson
Sigurdsson will be eager to show his old employers that he can produce for a side challenging for the European spots.
He’s a better player than the one he was at Spurs and a good display will underline that emphatically.
ST: Sandro Ramirez
Ramirez has looked sharp enough in the games he’s played but needs to add some more end product.
With young Dominic Calvert-Lewin around, too, he’ll need to start hitting the net ASAP.
