Two teams tipped to battle at the wrong end of the Premier League table will lock horns at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon when Everton play host to Luton Town.
The Toffees and the Hatters experienced contrasting results in the EFL Cup third round in midweek, with the former coming out on top against Aston Villa and the latter losing to third-tier side Exeter City.
Match preview
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While there is still much uncertainty with regards to Everton's ownership predicament, Toffees fans have had plenty to smile about on the pitch after seeing their side follow up their first Premier League win of the season with progression in the EFL Cup.
Sean Dyche successfully steered his side to an impressive 3-1 away victory over Brentford last weekend thanks to goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure, James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and the latter was on the scoresheet again on Wednesday along with James Garner as the Toffees secured a 2-1 win at Aston Villa to set up a fourth-round tie with Burnley at the end of October.
Dyche has highlighted the "relentless" attitude of his players to grind out back-to-back victories and he hopes to build on those successes when entering favourable-looking fixtures at home against both Luton – Dyche's 500th game as a manager – and Bournemouth.
Form at Goodison Park is something that Everton will be keen to address in the coming weeks as they have only won one of their last eight top-flight games in front of their own supporters, losing each of their opening three matches this season by 1-0 scorelines.
Not since the 1958-59 season have the Toffees lost their first four home league games, while no English top-flight team in history have lost their opening four home fixtures without scoring.
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While Everton finally opened their account for the new campaign with victory last weekend, Luton are still searching for their first Premier League win since securing promotion last season, but they did at least pick up their first point in a 1-1 draw at home with Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday, albeit rescuing a share of the spoils with a controversially-given penalty.
The Hatters were unable to build on that positive result, though, as their hopes of ending their 16-year wait to reach the EFL Cup fourth round were quashed when League One outfit Exeter secured a 1-0 win on Tuesday courtesy of an 83rd-minute winner from Demetri Mitchell.
Rob Edwards admitted after the match that his much-changed side 'did not deserve to go through' following a performance which lacked quality in the final third, but an early cup exit could be viewed as a blessing in disguise for Luton as their priority remains survival in the top flight.
Sitting 18th in the table with just one point from five matches, Luton will look to finally announce themselves on the Premier League stage when they take on Everton and Burnley in two favourable-looking fixtures within the space of four days; defeat in both games, though, will certainly cast doubt over their top-flight credentials.
The Hatters enter Saturday's contest having failed to win each of their last six league meetings with Everton, but they did secure a narrow 1-0 EFL Cup win over the Toffees at Kenilworth Road in their last encounter back in October 2007.
Team News
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Everton boss Dyche has revealed that a few of his players are nursing knocks including left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, while Seamus Coleman (knee), Andre Gomes (calf) and Dele Alli (groin) all remain in the treatment room.
Jack Harrison impressed on his Toffees debut in midweek and the winger is set to battle with Arnaut Danjuma and Dwight McNeil for a start on the flanks against Luton.
It remains to be seen whether Calvert-Lewin can start back-to-back games up front, so summer signing Beto is an option to lead the line, while the likes of Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye and Ashley Young will all be pushing to start after beginning as substitutes last time out.
As for Luton, Albert Sambi Lokonga is facing up to two months out with a hamstring injury, and he will join Gabriel Osho (knee), Jordan Clark and Dan Potts (both ankle) on the sidelines, while former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley will be assessed ahead of kickoff after missing the last three games with a thigh problem.
After making 10 changes in midweek, Edwards is expected to revert to a side similar to the one that drew with Wolves last weekend, with Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer and Amari'i Bell all set to link arms in a back three between wing-backs Issa Kabore and Alfie Doughty – the latter impressed against Wolves and then started against Exeter, but will face competition from Ryan Giles to retain his spot on the left flank.
Either Tahith Chong, Luke Berry or Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu could start in centre-midfield alongside Marvelous Nakamba, while Carlton Morris could be supported in attack by Jacob Brown and Chiedozie Ogbene, which would see Cauley Woodrow and Elijah Adebayo drop down to the substitutes' bench.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Danjuma, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure, McNeil; Beto
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Burke, Lockyer, Bell; Kabore, Mpanzu, Nakamba, Doherty; Brown, Morris, Ogbene
We say: Everton 2-1 Luton Town
While Saturday's game cannot be considered a must-win at this early stage in the season, both teams will be aware of the importance of claiming maximum points in their quest to boost morale and climb the table.
Everton's poor home record bodes well for a Luton side who are desperate to claim their first Premier League win, but we believe that the Goodison Park faithful will roar the Toffees to a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
