Form
The Toffees come into this game in decent form.
A 2-1 win at Stoke just before the international break came on the back of a 2-0 win over Brighton at Goodison.
Prior to that, narrow defeats away to Burnley and Watford were preceded by a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace – in fact, you have to go back three months to New Year’s Day and a 2-0 loss to Manchester United to find the Toffees’ last home loss.
EVERTON v CITY: Classic clashes
With nine home wins, Everton have the best home record of any club outside the top six and it is at Goodison Park that the Merseysiders have all but secured Premier League safety this campaign and seventh-placed finish is still very much on the cards for Sam Allardyce’s men.
Playing style
Under Ronald Koeman, Everton struggled to play the slick passing game the Dutchman had hoped for.
Allardyce has perhaps an unfair reputation for playing long-ball football and Everton are by no means a direct team.
What Big Sam has done is ensure his side play to their strengths, so expect the hosts to get the ball forward quickly but constructively and with skill.
The manager’s remit when he took over was, first and foremost, keep the club up- something he looks set to achieve with more than a modicum of comfort.
Danger man
With four goals in his last three games, Cenk Tosun is the Toffees’ in-form striker.
Signed for £27m from Besiktas in January, the Turkey international is starting to show why Everton were keen to have him lead their attack.
Tosun enjoyed a prolific period for Besiktas and Gaziantepspor, averaging close to a goal every two games with 113 goals in 270 games.
With Theo Walcott and Yannick Bolasie in the forward line, too, Everton possess a frighteningly quick forward line who could cause plenty of problems on the counter-attack.
Team news
The Toffees have seven first team stars side-lined with injury.
Idrissa Gueye’s hamstring is expected to keep him out for another fortnight, while Mason Holgate and Tom Davis have no expected return date as yet.
Maarten Stekelenburg, James McCarthy and Gylfi Sigurdsson are all long-term injuries and Eliaquim Mangala couldn’t have played against his parent club even if he had been available.
The last time...
