Everton manager Rafael Benitez recently announced that key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be ruled out for several weeks through a muscle injury, leaving the Spaniard with several decisions to make for the upcoming Premier League schedule.
We certainly got a sense of how the Toffees could deal with the loss in their clash with Burnley on Monday, as they staged an inspired comeback to win 3-1 despite the absence of the English forward, who netted in each of the first three games of the season in the top flight.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how Everton could continue to line up without Calvert-Lewin for their upcoming clashes with Aston Villa, Norwich City and Manchester United.
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In the absence of the key focal point on Monday, Brazilian attacker Richarlison took on a more central role, leading a front three, and the 24-year-old should continue to feature prominently, with target man Salomon Rondon offering vital experience off the bench in the late stages of games.
He is flanked by a pair of new signings, with Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray both having got on the scoresheet in the win over Burnley after arriving at Goodison Park in the summer.
Townsend hit an eye-catching long-range effort and will hope to work more goals into his game in the long term, while Gray has hit the ground running in Merseyside after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, netting three goals in his first four Premier League outings, with the former Leicester man seeming to thrive in the Toffees' free-flowing counters.
With the return of Ben Godfrey from injury, Benitez seems likely to make the most of his strong defensive ranks by deploying the former Norwich man alongside Michael Keane and Yerry Mina in a solid back three, shielding stopper Jordan Pickford, who has made an impressive start to the new season after shining for England at Euro 2020.
With Lucas Digne and captain Seamus Coleman nailing down wing-back spots, the Toffees are left with a gap to fill in the midfield with two players, and Allan is certain to keep hold of one of those places, after the Brazilian was brought in by Ancelotti last season, as he offers crucial protection for the back three with impressive ability to regain the ball and launch attacks.
He was complemented by Abdoulaye Doucoure last time out, and the 28-year-old made an eye-catching incisive ball to set Gray up for Everton's third, surely locking down the Frenchman's place for the coming weeks, as his dynamic game suits a varied role in a midfield duo that is heavily relied upon by the Toffees' front three.
Sam Varley
