Venue: Goodison Park
Date: 02/12/2017
Kick-off: 15:00 (BST)
Everton prepare to square off against Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park in what will be Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge as Toffees manager and one can be sure that the veteran manager will want to start off with a victory on the day.
David Unsworth’s ended his tumultuous reign as manager of Everton with a fine 4-0 victory over West Ham United in midweek and now Allardyce will be taking over the reins at the club with the players having regained a bit of confidence heading into the clash against Huddersfield.
Everton Team News
The likes of Leighton Baines, Ross Barkley, Yannick Bolasie, Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori and James McCarthy are all struggling with injuries at the moment and Allardyce with have to do without their services this weekend.
Given the 4-0 victory over West Ham, Allardyce is unlikely to make many changes to the squad even though he would like to bring his own ideas to the club.
Jordan Pickford will start in goal and the defence should consist of Jonjoe Kenny, Phil Jagielka, Jonny Williams and Cuco Martina. In midfield, Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies are expected to start while Wayne Rooney will be looking to continue his fine run of form following his stunning hattrick in midweek.
In attack, Aaron Lennon and Gylfi Sigurdsson will start out wide while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to lead the line for the Toffees again.
Probable Lineups
Everton (Probable XI): Pickford; Cuco Martina, Jagielka, Williams, Kenny; Gueye, Rooney, Davies; Sigurdsson, Lennon, Calvert-Lewin
Huddersfield Town (Probable XI): Lossl; Malone, Zanka, Schindler, Smith; Hogg, Williams, Ince, Mooy, Kachunga; Depoitre
Last Meeting
25/08/2010 Everton 5 – 1 Huddersfield Town
Prediction
The clash on Saturday will be the first ever between the two sides in the Premier League and the last time they squared off against each other was in the League Cup back in 2010, when the Toffees emerged 5-1 victors.
A lot has obviously changed for Huddersfield since and the clash this weekend should be a tough one for Everton. Nonetheless, Everton would be buoyed by the result on Wednesday night and given Allardyce’s arrival, a home win should be on the cards.
Everton 2 – 0 Huddersfield Town
