Everton line-ups as Vitalii Mykolenko replacement named for Brentford

Joe Thomas: Everton are all but safe however this is a golden opportunity to remove all jeopardy. For the first six months of this season I dreamt of being able to go to Luton and just enjoy a new ground (for me) without the threat of relegation. That looked unlikely over recent weeks but two important wins have changed everything.

Now is the time to finish the job so I think Sean Dyche should go strong. There is an enforced change with Vitalii Mykolenko out injured. Ashley Young is the obvious replacement there. After that I think Dyche should keep it as it is.

If Everton finish this off today then there are three games left to try something different, to give young and squad players opportunities and experiment - to try and learn something ahead of an important summer. That is the reward for the right decisions today. One last push.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Young, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Godfrey; McNeil, Garner, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison; Calvert-Lewin

Chris Beesley: Given the heroic all-round performance of Everton’s team against Liverpool to secure their first Merseyside Derby victory at Goodison Park for 13-and-a-half years, I’d try and keep changes to a minimum against Brentford although Sean Dyche’s hand might be forced somewhat.

After shackling Mohamed Salah well for the first 45 minutes, Vitalii Myklonenko was forced off at the interval with an ankle injury and left the ground on Wednesday night with his foot in a protective boot so with the Ukraine international awaiting scan results, Ashley Young, who came on for him against the Reds, seems the natural replacement at left-back. I might have been tempted to swap Ben Godfrey over as he has done well on the left side of defence at times in the past but with Seamus Coleman yet to return to full training, continuity is the key.

Hopefully a couple of Everton’s brightest derby stars Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who overcame illness to lead the line and score, plus the all-action Idrissa Gueye, who Dyche said the Blues “took a bit of a risk” with due to a tight calf, can retain their spots in the starting line-up less than 72 hours after Jurgen Klopp’s side were vanquished to complete an impressive Goodison hat-trick in the space of a week.

My team (4-5-1): Pickford; Godfrey, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin.