English Premier League: Everton vs. Stoke City – Match Preview
Everton will take on Stoke city at Goodison Park today in their Premier League encounter.
Everton’s last home match was against city rivals Liverpool FC when they claimed all 3 points. Having won the Merseyside derby, The Blues could only manage a draw against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend at White Hart Lane.
Although The Toffees have only managed to grab 10 points from their 9 matches, they are unbeaten in the previous 4 league games. The last defeat for The Toffees came against Newcastle United while playing at home.
Their opposition for the day, Stoke City, are two places behind them in the table, in 13th place. Stoke City are equal on points (10) with David Moyes’ side, but are below in the standings due to an inferior goal difference.
The team from Britannia Stadium have lost their last two matches in the English Premier League and will be looking to end their losing streak when they play on Saturday.
Manager David Moyes will be without his industrious midfielder Leon Osman. Osman signed a new contract earlier this week that will keep him at the club until 2014.
After the deal was done, Osman said, “It has been a discussion for a few weeks now and I am delighted to have agreed to stay on."There was never any doubt on my part and I was just eager to put pen-to-paper - I want to stay here
as long as I can.”
Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta is also doubtful to start for the home team, and will take a late fitness test to confirm his place in the side. Arteta missed the last game against Tottenham following a hamstring injury.
Stoke’s leading goal scorer Kenwyne Jones is not 100 percent fit for the game. The man from Trinidad is suffering from illness and may not feature for The Potters. However, manager Tony Pulis has come out and denied that the striker’s
fitness problems are caused by fixture congestion.
He said, “The players get paid d**n good money, so to ask them to play three lots of 90 minutes, or whatever it is, over a week, I don't think is too much.”
3 Everton players are on the brink of achieving personal milestones. Philip Neville will be making his 600th club career appearance, while Leighton Baines will be making his 100th Premier League appearance for Everton. Australian
star Tim Cahill is one just 1 goal short of scoring 50 Premier League goals.
Stoke City have not managed to beat Everton since December 1982. This is the 117th meeting between the sides. Everton lead by 57 wins to 29, with 30 draws.
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