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Barry or Beto? How should Everton's XI look?

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As the season opener nears, fans are wrestling with what starting XIs may look like.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Everton fan Natalie Bargery has picked her XI for the Crystal Palace fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

She explained: "Jordan Pickford in goal, Merlin Rohl at right-back, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski at centre-back, Vitalii Mykolenko at left-back.

"Hayden Hackney, Harrison Armstrong and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a little bit further forward. Iliman Ndiaye and Tyrique George on the wing and Thierno Barry up front."

Bargery described Branthwaite as the "first outfield name on the teamsheet" and added he is in "100%" of Evertonians starting line-ups.

"At left-back, let's go with the more tried and trusted option," she added. "I think [Adam] Aznou is going to develop into a very good left-back but I think it's too much of a risk to start him on Saturday.

"The midfield is changed from what would be our first choice. It does lack a bit of defensive steel and that's probably why I've gone for Mykolenko and Tarkowski as a bit more of a steady choice as I see it. We have looked open in pre-season and that may not change greatly on Saturday with [Christian] Norgaard to come in so it may be a case of just trying to score a few goals."

Bargery said she picked Barry over Beto to start up front after he "did really well" in pre-season.

She added: "There was talk about Barry having a shoulder injury last season and whether that has cleared up for him a bit. I think it's a natural thing for younger players and players coming from abroad to need a season to settle in. He's the one that we need to back. I think you have got to back Barry and start him."

Listen to the full chat below or here on BBC Sounds

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