--- title: "4-2-3-1: This Everton XI will batter Middlesbrough on Saturday" canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/4-2-3-1-this-everton-xi-will-batter-middlesbrough-on-saturday/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "George Dagless" section: "Everton" published: "2016-09-15T18:40:29Z" modified: "2016-09-15T18:40:29Z" --- # 4-2-3-1: This Everton XI will batter Middlesbrough on Saturday **Everton are flying so far this season and our resident Toffees fans here in the Transfer Tavern are loving every single second.** The Toffees should have beaten Spurs on the opening day before only getting a draw but since then they have been on fire. They beat West Brom and Stoke before crushing Sunderland 3-0 on Monday night in a performance that suggested to the rest of the league they’re only going to get better. It really was an emphatic victory, particularly in the second half and perhaps most ominously, Romelu Lukaku finally found his shooting boots with an eleven minute hat-trick. No wonder the local Toffees fans are dreaming of Champions League football next year and to be honest if they carry on in the manner they are in, you wouldn’t bet against them. The Blues face Middlesbrough this weekend looking to extend their beaten run and our landlord thinks that with this XI, another three points will be going to the Merseysiders… ## Maarten Stekelenburg ![Stekelenburg](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4732495.jpg?admin) Stekelenburg is a favourite of Ronald Koeman and will surely start barring injury this weekend after a clean-sheet last time out. ## Seamus Coleman ![ColemanColemanColeman](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/4837019.jpg?admin) The Irish right-back is back into the first team set up after injury and should play again against Boro. If he can start getting forward as we’re used to seeing him do the Toffees will have another dynamic to their attack. ## Phil Jagielka ![Jagielka](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/4768723.jpg?admin) Jagielka is as solid as they come and will play once again at the back for the Blues. ## Ashley Williams ![Ashley Williams](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Ashley-Williams-.jpeg) The new signing has settled into his new side pretty seamlessly and the understanding with Jagielka is only going to get better and better. ## Leighton Baines ![Leighton Baines](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/leighton-baines.jpeg) Baines may not be as energetic as he once was down the left side but he still has a cracking left foot and if given the space will harm Boro from out wide. ## Idrissa Gueye ![idrissa-gueye](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Idrissa-Gueye-.jpg?admin) Gueye could be one of the signings of the season if his early performances are anything to go by. He gets about the pitch with ease and has a creative edge about him too. Our landlord is a big fan. ## Gareth Barry ![Gareth Barry](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Gareth-Barry.jpg?admin) Barry will be making his 600th appearance in the Premier League if he starts this weekend and that’s testament to both his consistency and professionalism. You can always rely on him to put in a good performance. ## Yannick Bolasie ![bolasiessscv](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/bolasiessscv.jpg?admin) Bolasie seems to have got the Everton fans onside so far this season with his pace out wide, and should play once again at Goodison Park this weekend. ## Ross Barkley ![barkleybarkleyv](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/barkleybarkleyv.jpg?admin) Barkley was hooked at half-time against Sunderland amid a pretty poor performance, but Koeman should give him the chance to redeem himself here. It could be the chance he needs to step up a level. ## Kevin Mirallas ![Kevin Mirallas](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Kevin-Miralles-.jpg?admin) Mirallas has been decent enough this season as Koeman looks to give his side more width, so expect him to start once again against Boro. ## Romelu Lukaku ![lukaku](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/lukaku.jpg?admin) Lukaku broke his scoring duck emphatically against the Black Cats and should now kick on. Middlesbrough will have to be wary because he looked very dangerous on Monday night.