Everton line-ups for Crystal Palace as Jarrad Branthwaite on bench and Jesper Lindstrom starts

Everton's search for a win in the Premier League continues on Saturday. The Blues are back in action against Crystal Palace, looking to build on the point at Leicester City last weekend.

it has been a positive week for the Toffees so far, with confirmation coming earlier this week that an agreement had been reached for the club to be sold to The Friedkin Group.

The news brought about significant relief at Goodison Park and a win would cap off an encouraging few days. But a loss would only ramp up the pressure on the players and manager Sean Dyche. Here is a look at how some of our writers believe the Blues should line up for a critical contest.

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Chris Beesley - Lindstrom and Garner keep their place

Sean Dyche says that Jarrad Branthwaite is “certainly in the hat” to start against Crystal Palace as Everton search for a first Premier League win of the campaign and if that’s the case, then it’s surely time to pull him out and get ‘The Carlisle Kaiser’ on the team sheet. Branthwaite hasn’t kicked a ball for the Blues’ senior side for 133 days since their controversial last-gasp defeat to title-chasing Arsenal on the final day of last season after suffering what Dyche originally described as “a minor groin issue” but having come through the full 90 minutes for the Under-21s last Sunday as they defeated their Sunderland counterparts 4-3 in Southport, the club’s breakthrough star of 2023/24 looks primed for his big return.

With Branthwaite dominating their defence, only the Gunners kept more clean sheets than Everton in the Premier League last season but having failed to record a shutout so far – shipping 14 in five matches – his big return can’t come soon enough. Hopefully Vitalii Mykolenko, another of the previous campaign’s success stories, is also well enough to come back in, while given the surfeit of options in the engine room compared to the moveable feast at right-back, I’d keep James Garner where he was at Leicester City on the opposite flank.

Idrissa Gueye’s return from compassionate leave gives Dyche a big decision to make in central midfield but after their encouraging first outing together in those roles at the King Power Stadium in difficult conditions, I’d retain the fledgling partnership of Abdoulaye Doucoure and deadline day loan signing Orel Mangala as, unlike in previous matches of late, there appeared to be a better balance with them together.

Another new face I’d retain is Jesper Lindstrom as, despite missing a string of inviting chances in the last two fixtures that he’s started, he’s still getting into those dangerous positions and will hopefully start converting them soon, while the team seemed to lose their out ball when he was substituted against the Foxes.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Garner, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil, Lindstrom, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin

Joe Thomas - Branthwaite begins on the bench

I wouldn’t start Jarrad Branthwaite today. I know that will sound like madness to many, and I am probably in the minority on this. I do recognise this is a huge game and a win is desperately needed. And while I don’t think a return for Branthwaite solves all of the issues experienced by Everton this season, he undoubtedly helps.

But it is because of his importance that I think it may be worth holding off for one more week. He has been out a long time. Yes, he has been working on a rehabilitation programme for some time, but he has played one match since May. I was at that game at Southport last week and there was a lot to like. He dominated in the air and by the end of the game was winning foot races with attackers. He did start tentatively though and looked like he was feeling his way back into it. This match is a big step up from that 90 minutes and I don’t want to hang him out to dry by bringing him back too early.

This decision is also in part due to one of his opponents today - Eberechi Eze. Eze is one of very few players who I saw cause Branthwaite issues last season. Branthwaite conceded one penalty against him in the 3-2 win at Selhurst Park and almost conceded another. With Everton still vulnerable at full back and searching for stability in centre midfield, the last thing Branthwaite needs is Eze tearing at him on his first game as he searches for fitness. Michael Keane keeps his place for me.

In front of the centre backs I would like to see Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Doucoure rekindle the partnership I thought showed promise at Leicester City. They offered a defensive screen and Mangala was good at retaining possession and feeding it to the wide players. Idrissa Gueye starts with them and while that may seem like a cautious midfield, the plan would be to make Everton solid in the middle so they can let their attackers have more freedom. Dwight McNeil wide left, Iliman Ndiaye in the middle and Jesper Lindstrom on the right. Get them running at Palace. Lindstrom’s end product has been lacking in recent games but I think it will come and his pace is hugely important - the game changed last week when he came off.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner; Mangala, Gueye; McNeil, Ndiaye, Lindstrom; Calvert-Lewin

Paul Wheelock - Two changes for a must-win match

What a difference 10 days make. After walking away from Goodison Park after the drab Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat to Southampton with no rush to get back to the ground - which should never be in the case in its final season - optimism has returned ahead of today's visit of Crystal Palace.

The first 60 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Leicester City offered a glimpse of better times ahead but it was this week's announcement that The Friedkin Group had agreed a takeover deal with wantaway owner Farhad Moshiri that's really lifted spirits. While there is still work to be done before the deal is completed, a cloud has been lifted over the fanbase.

And while Sean Dyche and players will no doubt be wondering what their futures hold under the prospective new American owners, hopefully they are feeling better about themselves too after months and months of off-field uncertainty.

Now their job is to ensure that a week full of promise continues that way by recording a long, overdue first win of the Premier League season.

For so long that looked like it would come at the King Power Stadium where, aided by the return of key players from injury and illness, Dyche's side produced a vibrant display in atrocious conditions before Leicester launched a late fightback.

The front four dovetailed intelligently and the combination of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Oriel Mangala worked well so there'd be no changes in midfield or attack for me.

Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski start, as they always do when fit. James Garner keeps his place at right-back but Ashley Young loses his at left-back to Vitalii Mykolenko.

That leaves one place to fill - and it goes to the person who has given Everton another reason to feel positive this week with his return to full fitness. Welcome back, Jarrad Branthwaite.

My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Garner, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Mangala, Doucoure; Lindstrom, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.