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Let’s unpick those teams a little.
Not unexpectedly, both Gueye and Ndiaye come straight back into the Everton XI. Rohl can count himself a little unlucky to find himself back on the bench after his Villa heroics, while Barry and McNeil are preferred to Beto and Dibling. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is available again for the first time since 13 December, but is among the subs. As mentioned in the preamble, Grealish is injured. The home side will line up in a 4-2-3-1.
Just as he was in the wins over Derby and Fulham, Darlow gets the nod in net for Leeds. Peek Facundo Buonanotte on the bench for the visitors after his loan move from Brighton – the Argentinian is one of many attacking options available to come on with Piroe, Nmecha, Okafor and Gnonto. Leeds will line up in a 3-5-2, with Bogle and Justin giving the width as the wing backs and Aaronson floating behind Calvert-Lewin.
The teams!
Everton: Pickford, Patterson, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Armstrong, McNeil, Barry.
Subs: Travers, Beto, Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, Coleman, Alcaraz, Branthwaite, Rohl, Aznou.
Leeds: Darlow, Bornauw, Rodon, Struijk, Bogle, Stach, Ampadu, Gruev, Justin, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Lucas Perri, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Okafor, Tanaka, Byram, Gnonto, Buonanotte.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Preamble
Welcome to the Jermaine Beckford Derby!
It’s a big night for both of these sides. Everton will go seventh (!) with victory tonight and David Moyes welcomes back both Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye after their Afcon-winning exploits with Senegal. With Jack Grealish injured, Ndiaye will surely be straight back into the XI, but how Moyes judges the rest of his team will be interesting after the excellent away performance to beat title-chasing Aston Villa last time out. Will Merlin Rohl and Harrison Armstrong retain their places? We will have the team news with the answers just after 7pm GMT.
It’s the worst kept secret in Yorkshire but Leeds are on a bit of a tear at the moment. With just one defeat since November in all competitions, Leeds have won their last two matches, the latter secured by a stoppage-time winner from Lukas Nmecha against Fulham. A win for Leeds this evening could take them eight points clear of the drop zone. Oooof.
This is how the Premier League table looks before kick-off:
All eyes will be on Dominic Calvert-Lewin on his return to Everton. The 28-year-old has eight goals in his last 10 games and will be eager to remind the Everton hierarchy what they are missing. I imagine the striker will get a mixed reception at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, in which he has presumably never set foot.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
