Everton boss Frank Lampard has issued a mixed update on the fitness of a pair of key defenders ahead of a massive clash with Watford, which should they win could see them move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Their opponents have little to play for, with their own relegation having been confirmed over the weekend courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, while the hornets seem to be winding down after Roy Hodgson confirmed he will be leaving this summer.
For Everton, currently having won two games on the bounce, it is an opportunity to take a massive step towards guaranteeing their place in the Premier League for next season, something that at one point appeared to be unlikely.
Mykolenko in, but trio out
And, speaking ahead of the clash with the London club at Vicarage Road, Frank Lampard has revealed that he will be without three squad members, the most serious of those being Colombian Yerry Mina, who was forced off against Leicester City.
Vitalii Mykolenko is fit for #WATEVE but Yerry Mina will miss out.
đź“ş Watch live: https://t.co/rxnVx4dxIJ pic.twitter.com/ceOMfWcTAG
— Everton (@Everton) May 10, 2022
They have been boosted by the return of Vitaly Mykolenko, who was also forced off at the weekend but only with cramp, but neither Donny Van De Beek or Ben Godfrey will be fit enough for the clash.
‘Donny (van de Beek) is not ready.’ We’re hoping that he’ll be ready for next week’s games. Potentially the weekend. And with Ben (Godfrey) similar. He’s working with every ounce of sweat and bone in his body to be fit and take part in the run-in’, Lampard told the press.
“Donny (van de Beek) is not ready. We’re hoping that he’ll be ready for next week’s games. Potentially the weekend. And with Ben (Godfrey) similar. He’s working with every ounce of sweat and bone in his body to be fit and take part in the run-in.” https://t.co/mzoYzgSQhW#EFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) May 10, 2022
However, with Watford relegated already and Everton desperate for points, it is hard to see past a win for even a depleted Toffees squad.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 35 | 68 | 86 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 35 | 64 | 83 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 35 | 39 | 67 |
| 4 | Arsenal FC | 35 | 14 | 66 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 35 | 20 | 62 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 37 | 1 | 58 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 36 | 11 | 55 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 35 | 1 | 50 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 36 | -4 | 47 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | 35 | 4 | 44 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 34 | 0 | 43 |
| 12 | Brentford FC | 36 | -8 | 43 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 36 | -21 | 43 |
| 14 | Leicester City | 34 | -7 | 42 |
| 15th | Southampton FC | 36 | -20 | 40 |
| 16 | Everton FC | 34 | -19 | 35 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 35 | -17 | 34 |
| 18 | Leeds United | 35 | -35 | 34 |
| 19 | Watford FC | 35 | -38 | 22 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 35 | -53 | 21 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 22 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 18 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 15th |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 14 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 13 |
| Tony, Ivan | Brentford FC | 12 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 12 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 11 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 11 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 10 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 10 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 10 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 10 |
| Rafinha | Leeds United | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 10 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 10 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bednarek, Jan | Southampton FC | 0 | 10 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 10 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 9 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 8 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 7 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 8 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 9 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 8 |
| Kulusevski, Dejan | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 8 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 7 |
| Mbeumo, Bryan | Brentford FC | 7 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United | 6 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 6 |