The Top Flight
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Everton vs. Crystal Palace: Combined XI ahead of Premier League clash

By Craig Pearson

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Romelu Lukaku (C) of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Bryan Oviedo (L) and Aaron Lennon (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on March 5, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Romelu Lukaku (C) of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Bryan Oviedo (L) and Aaron Lennon (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on March 5, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Gareth Barry of Everton in action in his 600th premier league game during the Premier League match between Everton and Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on September 17, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Gareth Barry of Everton in action in his 600th premier league game during the Premier League match between Everton and Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on September 17, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Central Midfield

Central midfield has a host of candidates to consider. James McArthur, Joe Ledley and Yohan Cabaye have all contributed to Palace in the center of the park this season. With McArthur and Ledley having emerged as Alan Pardew’s most recent first choice pairing.

Whilst Ronald Koeman has tended to stick with Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry in his midfield. Koeman also has other options in his squad, although James McCarthy has been sidelined recently and Muhamed Besic is a long-term injury casualty.

McArthur and Ledley are proving to be one of the more underrated midfield pairing around the league, but it is impossible to not select Barry and Gueye as the two men in central midfield. Barry recently made his 600th Premier League appearance recently and scored a goal to mark the occasion.

Whilst Gueye has proved one of the value signings of the summer transfer window. The Senegalese midfielder didn’t look half the player at Aston Villa last season as he does now at Goodison Park.

Koeman deserves all the credit for spotting Gueye’s talent and then plucking him off the Villa scrapheap. Everton are reaping the rewards of the signing already with Gueye’s energy and mobility proving a great partner to Barry’s experience and passing ability.

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