Everton suffered a frustrating last-gasp defeat at home to Merseyside rivals Liverpool in their final game before Christmas last weekend.

Ronald Koeman’s side had done a decent job in thwarting the Reds’ attacking prowess, but were undone when Sadio Mane reacted quickest to poke home when Daniel Sturridge’s effort bounced back into the six-yard box.

It means that the Toffees sit ninth in the table at Christmas, a place better off than they were this time last year despite having accumulated the same amount of points (23).

Nonetheless, they did beat Arsenal 2-1 in the run up to the festive season to end a run of no win in five Premier League games, so they’ll take confidence from that match into their clash with champions Leicester on Monday.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have struggled in defence of the title they won so incredibly last season, but did come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Stoke last weekend.

In what should be an intriguing encounter at the King Power Stadium on Monday, Koeman may freshen things up given that his side face Hull just four days later at the KCOM Stadium.

Thus, here are THREE Everton players who deserve a chance on Boxing Day…

Tom Cleverley

Everton looked a bit leggy in the centre of midfield against Liverpool and, with James McCarthy taken off with injury, Tom Cleverley could return to the starting eleven against Leicester.

The former Manchester United man has started just once for the Toffees since their 1-1 draw at Manchester City on October 15, but has often been used as a substitute by manager Koeman.

However, with Gareth Barry struggling to keep up with play on Monday night and McCarthy unlikely to be fit for Boxing Day, the 27-year-old may be needed alongside Idrissa Gueye to give the Everton midfield some substance and composure, as well as energy and guile, against the champions.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

19-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin has come on as a substitute in Everton’s last two Premier League games, and could be in line to make his first ever start against Leicester on Monday.

The forward moved to Goodison Park this summer after three years at League One side Sheffield United, but with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Yannick Bolasie, and Kevin Mirallas on the books on Merseyside, he is unlikely to get much of a chance.

However, Bolasie’s injury and Mirallas’ dip in form means that Calvert-Lewin has got closer to the first team picture, and Koeman may feel that he needs to change things up in his attacking ranks against the Foxes, and Calvert-Lewin’s energy could be exactly what they need to get back to winning ways.

Kevin Mirallas

Ross Barkley had a poor game against Liverpool, and you wonder how many more chances he will get from Koeman to get back to his previous high level.

Yet, it’s unlikely that he’ll get a chance on Monday against Leicester, so Kevin Mirallas could return to the starting eleven for the first time since the Watford defeat.

The Belgian international is another forward player who has struggled this season, netting just once and laying on one assist in 16 league appearances, both of which were in the first four games of the campaign.

Nonetheless, Koeman may look to change things upfront against Leicester based on their blunt attacking threat against Liverpool, so the 29-year-old could be in line for a recall.