Venue: Goodison Park
Date: 05/03/2016
Kick-off: 15:00 (BST)
Match
Everton welcome in form West Ham United to Goodison Park this weekend and the outcome of the game could have a huge bearing on which teams will finish in Europe this season.
Despite playing some wonderful football, Everton have been largely inconsistent during the current campaign and this fact has been a source of huge frustration for the fans as the Toffees certainly possess a team which deserves to be higher up the table.
Nonetheless, Everton did manage to pick up their third victory in four matches following a 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa in midweek and now manager Roberto Martinez will be keen on his side to continue their good run of form for the last quarter of the season.
Finishing in Europe is certainly a possibility for Everton at the moment but they do have a host of difficult encounters coming up and the clash against Champions League chasing West Ham United this weekend will be a barometer of whether or not the Toffees can finish in Europe this season.
Everton Team News
Leighton Baines, Muhamed Besic, Tom Cleverley, Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo are the doubts ahead of the game for Everton and are unlikely to be featuring on the day.
Joel Robles will start in goal while the defence should consist of the likes of Phil Jagielka, Ramiro Funes Mori, Seamus Coleman and the returning John Stones.
Gareth Barry and James McCarthy are certain to start at the middle of the park for Everton while the attacking positions will be occupied by Aaron Lennon, Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley.
Gerard Deulofeu, Leon Osman, Arouna Kone, Tom Cleverley and Oumar Niasse are also available and any one of the aforementioned players could feature on the day if Martinez decides to change things around.
Romelu Lukaku will be leading the line for Everton and the Belgian will be keen on further building on his fine performance against Aston Villa.
Probable Lineups
Everton (Probable XI): Robles; Stones, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Coleman; McCarthy, Barry, Lennon, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku
West Ham United (Probable XI): Adrian; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Oxford, Antonio; Kouyate, Song, Noble, Lanzini, Payet; Emenike
Last Meeting
07/11/2015 West Ham United 1 – 1 Everton
16/05/2015 West Ham United 1 – 2 Everton
Prediction
Everton and West Ham United have both played some wonderful attacking football this season and one can expect a high scoring game at Goodison Park on Saturday.
That said, both teams need to avoid a defeat in order to suffer a blow in their respective European aspirations and a gung-ho tactical approach from either side is unlikely.
Everton will feel that they stand a chance given their fine form recently but West Ham are on a high as well and a score draw could well be the most likely outcome from the clash.
Everton 2 – 2 West Ham United
