View: Everton ace can become cult hero this weekend despite what he once said about 'Scary' Salah

Vitaliy Mykolenko can etch himself as an Everton cult hero if he shuts out an in-form Mohamed Salah against Liverpool on Saturday.

Salah already has 27 goal contributions including 15 goals in all competitions this season, netting twice in his side’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle United on Wednesday [4 December].

Mykolenko has come in for scathing criticism as par for the course in the Toffees defence, and only the utmost optimist will back him to keep the Egyptian quiet come Saturday lunchtime [7 December].

Of all the Merseyside derbies down the years, this weekend’s ranks highly among them – not just due to the potential spanner in Liverpool’s title charge, nor the potential momentum of successive Goodison wins over the neighbours.

But barring an unlikely FA Cup draw, this will be the final derby at the traditional home, before the summer move to Bramley-Moore Dock. To sign off with a win over the red side would be a lifelong memory for all associated with the club.

Everton v Liverpool, Mykolenko v Salah

The motivation Mykolenko should gather in an individual sense ahead of this battle is that the weight is off his shoulders. Does anyone really expect him to blunt Salah’s impact on the game?

For a player who earlier this year confessed facing Salah was “scary” (Liverpool FC news) by the dynamic winger [Sky Sports, quoted by Liverpool.com, 23 February], that lack of expectation is the fire he has to take into this derby. Mykolenko is an enigma of a character, hardened by life outside of football and strong in the face of criticism.

Described by Ian Darke as a “fringe” player [29 November] in terms of whether his ability is Premier League standard, the Ukrainian left-back will know every element of what to expect from Liverpool’s right-hand side.

He doesn’t have just Salah to think about – Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to start having come off the bench to assist the Egyptian twice on Tyneside in midweek.

And this is where Mykolenko will need all the help he can get ahead of him, from Iliman Ndiaye along with whoever Dyche elects with on the left of the deep midfield duo.

An exposed one-versus-one battle between Mykolenko and Salah could be disastrous. If, however, Dyche floods these areas and makes it as inconvenient for Slot’s masters to affect the game as early and as often as possible, Everton may just checkmate their old enemy.

In other Everton news, fallout from the flooding at the Bramley-Moore Dock site.

For more Everton news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.

The post View: Everton ace can become cult hero this weekend despite what he once said about 'Scary' Salah appeared first on Goodison News.