Just a couple of weeks ago Everton were looking at the run-in to the Premier League season with a sense of renewed hope following the beating they handed Chelsea. However, a couple of awry results paired with injuries to key players and their European football chances are looking pretty slim, in part due to the log-jam of teams ahead of them.
David Moyes seemed a little down on Thierno Barry leading the line with Beto out, so it’ll be interesting to see if he tries something different with Tyrique
George or Iliman Ndiaye up top to start the game, utilizing their pace against the Hammers static backline.
Today’s opponents West Ham United have had a couple of positive recent results as they try to pull themselves away from the relegation mire. However, Nottingham Forest have pulled well clear which means it’s between the two London sides West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur for the last relegation berth. Spurs visit already-relegated Wolves and will be expecting to close the two-point gap with the Hammers, who will be extra-motivated taking on their former manager in Moyes.
Their manager Nuno Espirito Santo was very close becoming the Everton gaffer at one point, and has a 3 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses record against the Toffees. He will have a fully-fit squad for the game.
Who’s Out?
Jack Grealish and Jarrad Branthwaite are unavailable for the rest of the season while Beto misses out with a concussion sustained during the Merseyside Derby last weekend. There’s still no word on Charly Alcaraz.
Everton squad available vs West Ham
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman, Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish (INJURED), Dibling, Alcaraz (INJURED), George
Strikers: Beto (INJURED), Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stick to the 4-2-3-1 they’ve used so far.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 9/10
Michael Keane – 9/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jake O’Brien – 9/10
James Garner – 9/10
Idrissa Gueye – 9/10
Dwight McNeil – 8/10
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 9/10
George – 7/10 The on-loan winger has been speedy and direct in his substitute appearances
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10 If Moyes chooses not to start Barry then Ndiaye is most likely to lead the line
Bench
Mark Travers
Seamus Coleman
Nathan Patterson
Adam Aznou
Tim Iroegbunam
Merlin Rohl
Harrison Armstrong
Tyler Dibling
Thierno Barry
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