Unbeaten Everton, in five games in the Premier League, plays host to Fulham at Goodison Park this Saturday afternoon. The last time they played was in January this season, which ended goalless at Craven Cottage.
Match preview
Having begun the 2024-25 season in most uncertain style by losing four consecutive games and letting in 12 goals, Everton has suddenly found its rhythm under Sean Dyche. The Toffees have picked up eight points from their last four Premier League games, including a 0-0 draw with Newcastle before the international break and a recent 2-0 win over Ipswich Town. First-half goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane secured the victory and allowed Everton to climb to 16th in the Premier League, sitting five points above the relegation zone.
Everton’s record in October shows that they have managed to lift their form significantly, averaging 1.55 points per game compared to 0.75 across August and September in the 2022-23 campaign. They have been able to keep as many as six clean sheets in the last seven October league games. Their home record against Fulham has been poor lately, losing three consecutive matches at Goodison Park after going 27 undefeated at home against the Cottagers between 1949 and 2018.
Fulham Recent Form
Fulham’s excellent five-match unbeaten streak leading up to the international break, where they had lost just one of nine across all competitions, was book-ended by consecutive defeats to Manchester City and Aston Villa. They fought nobly in a 3-2 defeat away to Man City but folded in a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa, where Raul Jimenez’s opening goal was cancelled out by Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and an Issa Diop own goal.
Now 10th and only three points adrift of the top six, Fulham travel to Everton for a potentially tricky test. Manager Marco Silva – who spent 19 months in charge of Everton – will be eager to return to Goodison Park. Recently, Fulham have enjoyed promising results against Everton, taking victory three times and emerging with draws in the other two of their last five meetings.
They’ve also opened the scoring in each of their last five Premier League games, although they have been beaten in the last couple. Summary of form Everton (Premier League): LLDWDW Everton (All Competitions): LLDWDW Fulham (Premier League): DDWWLL Fulham (All Competitions): DLWWLL
Team news
Everton
Tim Iroegbunam, Youssef Chermiti, and Armando Broja are yet to recover from their respective foot problems. James Garner is also out with an injury to his back. Jarrad Branthwaite returns after a thigh injury, and Jesper Lindstrom should be fit enough following his illness. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye are likely to form the pivot in midfield, with Dwight McNeil providing attacking width as the central attacking midfielder. Jack Harrison and Iliman Ndiaye can work in support of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Predicted Line-up:
Everton predicted lineup
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gueye, Doucoure; Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.
Fulham
Sasa Lukic (shoulder) and Timothy Castagne (hamstring) are ruled out, while Jorge Cuenca (ankle) and Carlos Vinicius (calf) are doubtful. Joachim Andersen will be out for a game as a result of his red card against Aston Villa and should be replaced alongside Calvin Bassey at the back by Issa Diop. Raul Jimenez, with three goals in his last four league appearances, will lead the attack, with Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe, and former Everton man Alex Iwobi in support.
Predicted Fulham Lineup:
Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.
Prediction
With Everton’s form on an upswing and Fulham desperate to get back into the win column, this one has the makings of a very competitive battle at Goodison Park.
