The second game of the season sees Roberto Martinez manage his first competitive game at Goodison as Everton boss. The Blues will be hoping for a first win after coming up just short against Norwich last Saturday, while the visitors to L4 will be hoping for both a better performance and result than the loss to Southampton on the opening day.
Team News
In Martinez’s pre-match conference, he gave plenty of injury updates. Darron Gibson remains at a 50/50 chance, which means we probably won’t see the Irishman as it’s not worth the risk of a lengthier lay-off. Sylvain Distin twisted his ankle in the opening draw at Carrow Road and will face a test to play. Tony Hibbert is nearing his return, and will be in the squad either this weekend or against Stevenage in the Capital One Cup next Wednesday. Antolin Alcaraz and Magaye Gueye are getting closer to fitness, but will remain completely absent for the next 3 games.
As for Steve Clarke’s team, Steven Reid is a doubt and midfielders George Thorne and Zoltan Gera are missing for the game this weekend. On Thursday, new striker Nicolas Anelka was given compassionate leave after the passing of his long time agent.
Threats
The Baggies recruited two strikers in the summer, in Anelka and Matěj Vydra. Only Vydra will be looking to get his first goal for the club with Anelka missing and strikers usually do that against Everton. Shane Long also likes to put in a performance against Blues defences.
You can also count on the away side being a very tough aeriel threat. West Brom have some very tall defenders who are very strong in the air, and with three different delivery options in Brunt, Dorrans or Morrison, it will be difficult to avoid the battle of freekicks and corners being whipped in.
Everton Predicted Line Up
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Heitinga Baines
Osman Fellaini
Mirallas Barkley Pienaar
Jelavic
West Brom Predicted Line Up
Foster
Jones McAuley Olsson Ridgewell
Yacob Mulumbu
Morrison—————— Brunt
Long Vydra