Preview: Everton versus West Bromwich Albion
The game at Goodison Park will see both teams aiming for the eighth spot in the English Premier League table with a win, and avoiding facing the ‘drop zone’ with a loss. Both teams have sixteen points, but Everton have a goal difference advantage which places
them on the number fourteen spot, with West Brom trailing by only two spots.
The Baggies have won one more match than the Toffees, totalling four this season so far (with Everton on three). Everton have drawn seven matches as opposed to Albion’s four and lost four matches as compared to West Brom’s six. Both Moyes’ and Di Matteo’s
teams have scored a total of sixteen goals but Everton has the advantage concerning defensive matters, by conceding fifteen goals, contrasting to the Baggies twenty-five goals.
The Toffees have the statistical edge of gaining three points from matches against Di Matteo’s team in the English Premier League. They have managed to defeat West Brom five times from their previous eight meetings, with West Brom winning only two fixtures.
West Brom’s last win at Everton’s home ground in the Premier League competition dates back to May 1979. Other than that, they have managed to draw five times with the Toffees and succumbed six times to a loss. West Brom Albion will be looking to improve upon
their string of defeats; the Baggies have succumbed to defeat in four out of their previous five League games.
West Brom can seek solace in the fact that Moyes’ team have not fared so well in the previous four Premier League matches, managing to draw three and lose one. Roberto di Matteo’s men will have to be wary of the Toffees as they are the only team to have
successively scored every time in their last eight matches in the League. Statistics show that Everton tend to ‘leave it late’ as four out of their latest seven goals have been scored in the 89th minute of the match or after. Topping the list for
West Brom of players to mark, is Louis Saha. The French forward has netted four goals out of the six times he has starred against the Baggies in the League competition. West Brom’s Paul Scharner has found the net the same number of times (six), but out of
seven League games in which he was in the starting eleven. Everton have a strong partnership between players Tim Cahill and Leighton Baines. Since the beginning of the English Premier League last season, Baines has set up eight goals for Australian star Cahill,
which is the most that any other player has managed to do for his team-mate in the same amount of time.
David Moyes has not been content with his team’s form of late. In a press conference yesterday, he elaborated on Everton’s habit of playing “catch-up”. The Toffees have had a lethargic start to their Premier League campaign for the past two years, but have
managed to get back in form to reach a more favourable position in the League. Moyes’ team were successful in reaching the fifth spot in the table in the 2008-09 season but slipped down to eighth position in the 2009-10 season. “We set out to make a good start
to the season but it didn't happen.” rued Moyes. He was optimistic about his teams many draws this season calling them “frustrating” but content in the sense that “it would be even more frustrating if they were defeats.” David complemented his team by calling
them a “good side” but lamenting that they were not “proving it”. He concluded by stating his men needed to get back to “winning ways”.
The Everton squad has two injuries to Barkley, concerning his leg and Osman with an ankle problem. Anichebe has been struggling in training but managed to play all 90 minutes of a reserve game match, which may convince Moyes to star him in the team. Fellaini
will be unavailable due to a three match suspension.
West Bromwich’s Olsson has an Achilles injury and will not be played against the Toffees. Brunt, Miller, Morrison and Reid are doubtful to be played against Moyes’ team as they all have injuries (Brunt: groin), Miller (abdomen), Morrison (back) and Reid
(Achilles).
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