Resurgent Everton go in search of a third successive Premier League win against Stoke City at Goodison Park that will take to within touching distance of the top six.
The Toffee’s have been in superb form of late winning three from their last five and soaring up the table into ninth to put their poor start to the season behind them. David Moyes’ side enjoyed victories over Bolton and Wolves in recent weeks with both results proving to be huge confidence boosters going into the unrelenting festive period. Everton were languishing near the relegation zone at this point last season after an inconsistent start to the season that only picked up in the new year. There was the thought that similar events would transpire during the current campaign but the last few week’s have put paid to that theory with the Merseysiders now chasing a place in the top six. Admittedly their start was slow and with little investment in the playing squad along with the sale of Mikel Arteta giving the critics ammunition to write them off before the season had a chance to get going. The performances of key players like Leighton Baines, captain Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman alongside youngsters Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman and Marouane Fellaini have given hope to the Toffee’s supporters that they can have a successful season even after losing Arteta to Arsenal in the summer. Whilst scoring goals has been a problem, talisman Tim Cahill has yet to score in 2011, they’ve evolved their game and ground out results which will come in handy against a physical Stoke side.
A win against Blackburn was the The Potters first since mid-October with their 2-0 victory over Fulham followed by a run of five straight defeats that threatened to derail their season. Tony Pulis’ men have struggled to marry the Europa League and their domestic form together with fatigue visibly apparent in the squad. However after a break from jet setting around Europe Stoke look invigorated and were a class above against Rovers last Saturday with that 3-1 win lifting them away from the drop zone and into 12th. Renowned for their industrious approach and strong arm tactics Pulis’ side have been out battled in recent weeks with home defeats agains Newcastle and QPR highlighting their weaknesses. However they were back to their bruising best last week with summer signing Peter Crouch leading the charge with a commanding performance up front. The England man hasn’t been the regular supplier of goals many thought he would be but he exhibited great balance and technique for his fifth strike of the season and finally put in the sort of display expected of a target man who cost a club record £10 million. More importantly for Pulis his defence, which has been taken apart in recent weeks, stood firm and will have seen their confidence levels rise after a commanding performance . Taking on Everton will pose a challenge on a whole different level to that of Blackburn and the Potters will need to be at their best if they are to record their first win at Goodison Park since 1981.
Everton – 9th
Last Five: Won 2-0 v Bolton (A), Won 2-1 v Wolves (H), Lost 2-1 v Newcastle (A), Lost 1-0 v Manchester United (H), Won 3-1 v Fulham (A)
Potential Starting X11: 24. T. Howard 2. T. Hibbert 5. J. Heitinga 6. P. Jagielka [C] 3. L. Baines* 23. S. Coleman 26. J. Rodwell 17. T. Cahill 7. D Bilyaletdinov 11. R. Drenthe 8. L. Saha
Injury News: Jack Rodwell is out after missing last week’s win over Bolton whilst Sylvain Distin will also miss the visit of Stoke on Sunday.
Key Player: Leighton Baines
Despite never getting the plaudits he deserves the England defender has been Everton’s standout player over the last month and was instrumental in their win over Bolton last week. His exploits down the left wing and pinpoint crossing saw him have a helping hand in both of the Toffee’s goals and he’ll be expected to offer a similar supply against Stoke.
Match Fact: Everton enjoy playing against Stoke winning four and drawing three of their last 10 meetings. The Toffee’s were unbeaten in five against the Potters before January’s 2-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke – 12th
Last Five: Won 3-1 v Blackburn, Lost 3-2 v QPR (H) Lost 5-0 v Bolton (A), Lost 3-1 v Newcastle (H), Lost 3-1 v Arsenal (A)
Potential Starting X11: 29. T. Sorensen 28. A. Wilkinson 17. R. Shawcross [C] 4. Robert Huth 12. M. Wilson 16. J. Pennant 6. G. Whelan 24. R. Delap 18. D. Whitehead 19. J. Walters 25. P. Crouch*
Injury News: Tony Pulis will be without Matthew Etherington who has a back injury whilst Mamady Sidibie is out long-term with a knee tendon problem.
Key Player: Peter Crouch
A run of one goal in his last five brought about questions over whether the former Tottenham striker had lost his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premier League. He answered his doubters in style last week with a commanding performance up front weighing in with Stoke’s third goal in a comprehensive win over Blackburn. His aerial battle with England colleague Jagielka will be one to watch.
Match Fact: Stoke have beaten Everton just the once since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2008. They’d gone five games without beating the Toffee’s before a 2-0 success in January of this year.
Last Time at Goodison Park
Premier League 30 October 2010
Everton 1-0 Stoke City
Yakubu, 67
Attendance: 35,513
Referee: Lee Probert
PREDICTION
Everton are resurgent at the moment and will be confident of securing a third straight Premier League win against Stoke on Sunday. Moyes’s side have been in superb form of late losing narrowly at Newcastle and Manchester United before they beat Wolves at Goodison Park a fortnight ago. Stoke on the other hand ended a dreadful run of four straight defeats with a win over beleaguered Blackburn. The Potters have won once on the road this season and will have to be on top form to take something away from the blue half of Merseyside.
Score: 2-0
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