Drop 'horror show', bin Rafa tactic: Everton boss Lampard must make 2 changes vs NUFC - opinion

This is part of The Transfer Tavern’s Talking Tactics series, where we analyse two changes the manager should make in their upcoming fixture.

Frank Lampard’s Everton tenure began in style with a resounding 4-1 FA Cup victory over Brentford, but now attention turns to a crucial Premier League clash with Newcastle United.

The Toffees are hovering just four points above the relegation zone, and if results go against them this week, that gap could come down to one.

There was a fresh blow for Everton against Brentford as Ben Godfrey sustained a hamstring injury which is expected to rule him out for four to five weeks.

He joins Tom Davies, Fabian Delph and Abdoulaye Doucoure on the sidelines.

There’s better news on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, though, who’s back available after missing out at the squad.

The first change Frank Lampard must make from Everton’s last league game against Aston Villa is dropping Jonjoe Kenny.

Kenny struggled to make an impact in and out of possession against Villa, winning just one of his four duels, misplacing 17 of his 45 passes and failing to produce a single cross (via SofaScore).

Everton’s right-back faces a daunting test on Tuesday night in the form of Allan Saint-Maximin, who’s completing more dribbles per 90 minutes (4.3) than anybody else in the Premier League.

Ultimately, you have to question whether Kenny is cut out for the PL, the highest-ranking league in Europe. On loan at Celtic last season, in the ninth-best division, he was derided as a ‘horror show’ by pundit Paul John Dykes.

Potential replacements include Seamus Coleman or £12million January signing Nathan Patterson, who’s still awaiting a debut.

When he was manager, Rafael Benitez faced criticism for his use of a two-man midfield. The