Everton should start Ben Godfrey at left-back over Vitaliy Mykolenko in the Merseyside derby, according to journalist Tony Scott
After Lucas Digne left Everton last January, the Toffees spent £17m on Ukrainian left-back Mykolenko as his replacement. He appeared 13 times in the Premier League for the club last season, becoming the first-choice left-back after a fitness-hit beginning.
This season, the 23-year-old has extended his run in the side, starting every game in the league, primarily at left back but also at left-midfield and center-back.
On the contrary, it’s been a tough season for Godfrey who’s played just six league games so far after suffering a fractured leg on the opening day against Chelsea. However, Liverpool are on the horizon and Scott is yearning for Sean Dyche to make a change.
Scott stated on the All Together Now Everton Podcast that Dyche should consider making a change from their 1-0 win over Arsenal in order to combat Liverpool’s main threat down the flanks.
“Mykolenko played okay last week, but I prefer Ben Godfrey just because he’s more reliable defensively,” he said.
“I trust Ben Godfrey more, on more of a one-to-one basis. Everton are going to be up against the likes of Salah and Nunez etc, and they’re going to be up against quick players where you will be sometimes left isolated on a one-to-one basis, and this is where I don’t want the likes of Coady or Tarkowski left 1v1.
“We all know he’s a half-decent player, but defensively he can be ripped to shreds – as we’ve seen against Manchester City and all decent players this season.
“So I wouldn’t want him left isolated in a one v one against the likes of Salah or whoever’s playing – we know Jota could be coming back into the fray as well – so I don’t want that. I would prefer Godfrey, personally.”
Despite Scott’s suggestions of bringing Godfrey back into the side, the clash may come too early for him given he’s failed to appear in three of the previous four league games and wasn’t included against Arsenal.
With Salah operating on Liverpool’s right wing and Nunez likely to start as the No 9 who also tends to ghost into channels and behind defences with his pace, although Godfrey’s turn of foot would help when fully fit, he may not be after such limited action recently.
It would be surprising to see Mykolenko omitted from the starting lineup given his continued selection so far this season, as well as his ability to be deployed on the wing as well.
It may open up the chance for Dyche to play a back five, which features both players from the off, giving Mykolenko more help defensively as well as more cover for Godfrey if he is not fully fit.
