Venue: Goodison Park
Date: 22/11/2014
Kick-off: 15:00 (BST)
Match
Everton will be looking to continue their good run of form when they welcome West Ham United to Goodison Park on Saturday. Following a difficult start to the season, Everton have made a commendable recovery in recent times and are currently on a six match unbeaten streak.
Therefore, manager Roberto Martinez would have certainly been very pleased with his sides’ display over the last one-and-a-half month or so, and the Toffees now look on the right course in their hopes of finishing in Europe this season.
That said, the draws against Swansea City and Sunderland were games from which Martinez would have been looking to claim all three points and having seemingly ‘dropped’ four points in their last two matches – the clash against West Ham United this Saturday will be an important one for the Toffees.
Everton Team News
Roberto Martinez has a host of injury problems to contend with heading into the game as no less than eight regulars are currently struggling with various fitness issues.
In the full back positions, both Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman are doubts after picking up injuries during international duty while James McCarthy and Darron Gibson are also struggling with minor problems.
Gareth Barry has made a quicker than anticipated return from injury but will not feature on Saturday while Bryan Oviedo, John Stones, Antolin Alcaraz and Aroune Kone remain sidelined.
If indeed Baines and Coleman both miss out, Tyias Browning and Tony Hibbert could take their place on either side of defence while Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Tim Howard complete the back five.
With Barry and McCarthy both doubtful, it looks likely that Mohamed Besic and Leon Osman will be deployed in a deeper role. Amid the injury crisis, Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley are expected to start on the wings.
Samuel Eto’o has been impressing as a playmaker in recent times and will most probably continue against West Ham as well, while Romelu Lukaku should lead the line once again.
Probable Lineups
Everton (Probable XI): Howard; Browning, Distin, Jagielka, Hibbert; Naismith, Osman, Besic, Barkley; Lukaku, Eto’o
West Ham United (Probable XI): Adrian; Cresswell, Collins, Reid, Jenkinson; Noble, Song, Downing, Kouyate; Valencia, Sakho
Form
Everton: D W D W D
West Ham United: W W W D D
Last Meeting
01/03/2014 Everton 1 – 0 West Ham United
21/09/2013 West Ham United 2 – 3 Everton
Prediction
Everton have not been beaten by West Ham United in their last 13 meetings and the Toffees should be confident heading into the game on Saturday due to their fine record.
However, it is evident to see that West Ham are now a completely different proposition than they used to be over the past few years and one can be sure that the new look Hammers side will cause Roberto Martinez’s side a couple of problems on the day.
While both teams looked well matched in most areas of the pitch, the midfield will be a concern for Everton. With metronome duo of Barry and McCarthy potentially missing out the clash due to injury, West Ham’s will look the stronger team in the middle of the park due to the presence of powerhouses such as Alex Song and Cheikhou Kouyate.
Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho are pacey strikers as well and the relatively slower duo of Jagielka and Distin should be on their guard throughout the match.
West Ham nowadays play a more attacking brand of football but will not hesitate to go back to their direct football style if things are not going well, as big Andy Carroll is fit once again.
The match will certainly be a real test of the mettle for Everton and the Toffees will have to do very well to claim a result on the day. One can expect the clash to be a full blooded Premier League encounter and a score draw seems to be the likely outcome of the game.
Everton 1 – 1 West Ham United
