Everton travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday, and the battle of the Blues promises to be an interesting clash given the exciting football both teams have played this season.
The London side are the only side in Europe’s top five leagues still unbeaten across all competitions in 2018-19, and they will be looking to maintain that record when the Merseysiders come to town.
Chelsea have improved greatly under manager Maurizio Sarri since his arrival in the summer, but same can also be said of Everton under boss Marco Silva despite both sides’ varying degree of successes.
The Portuguese impressed Premier League fans with his brand of football during his stints at Hull City and Watford, and many believe he is the man to take the Toffees to the next level.
Ahead of another crucial test this weekend, Silva has revealed how he makes his selection before every game.
“No. The players will know [the starting XI] some hours before the match,” Silva replied when asked if he has made the decision to start Yerry Mina.
“We are working for the match. It’s possible [the players] have an idea of my team but it’s not my way [to tell them the starting XI.”
Most at times, some managers will choose to reveal their starting XI for the next game to their players as soon as possible, while others wait till the last minute like Silva.
Chelsea loanee Kurt Zouma is ineligible to play against his parent club on Sunday, and with Michael Keane set to retain his starting berth, it’s widely expected that Mina makes his first league start and partners the England international.
Since arriving from Barcelona, the Colombia international defender has seen injury slow down his progress at Everton.
Given the form of Zouma and Keane, Mina found it hard to break into the team upon full fitness, and Sunday could be his chance to stake a claim on a permanent shirt.
With Silva coy on his selection, though, could a surprise be on the cards at Stamford Bridge with Phil Jagielka also available for selection?
