Returning to Premier League duty with some much-needed breathing space over the relegation zone, Everton welcome West Ham United to their Goodison Park headquarters on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams have had cause for celebration in recent days, as the Toffees' points deduction was reduced on appeal, while the Hammers belatedly picked up their first win of 2024 at the ninth attempt.
Match preview
© Reuters
Jumping up two places in the Premier League table without even kicking a ball, Everton - recipients of the heaviest Premier League points docking ever handed down - saw their 10-point punishment for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules reduced to six in midweek.
Sean Dyche's troops are not quite out of the woods yet, though, as they remain at risk of a further penalty for a second PSR charge, but having momentarily gained four of their hard-earned points back, Everton have left Nottingham Forest and Brentford in their wake.
The hosts' points column now reads 25 thanks to their respectable 1-1 draw versus Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, where much-coveted defender Jarrad Branthwaite added a few more pounds to his value with a stunning opener, but his opposite number Lewis Dunk struck deep into added time for the 10-man Seagulls.
With there being no repeat of last season's 5-1 Amex annihilation, Everton's winless run across all competitions now stands at six matches since January's FA Cup triumph over Crystal Palace, and a nine-game streak without success in the top flight has done their survival prospects no good either.
Five of the hosts' last six engagements in the Premier League have seen Dyche's men share the spoils, and an unwanted club record could now be matched by the Toffees, who have previously only gone seven league games without a win at the start of a year in 1989 and 2004.
© Reuters
Up until Monday evening, West Ham fans could empathise with their Everton counterparts over dismal winless runs in the Premier League, but after eight straight games without success in 2024, the Irons made a declining Brentford side their first victims of the New Year.
Jarrod Bowen became the first West Ham player to score a Premier League hat-trick at the London Stadium - sealing his first senior treble in just over an hour - and a 25-yard rocket from Emerson Palmieri also ensured that Neal Maupay and Yoane Wissa's efforts would count for nought in a 4-2 thriller.
By virtue of claiming their first Premier League victory since late December, David Moyes's troops have also shot up two places in the rankings - leapfrogging Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers into eighth place - and only Brighton's superior goal difference is keeping the Hammers outside of the European spots.
Continental matters will soon take centre stage again for the Europa Conference League holders, who reunite with Freiburg in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, and ending a four-game winless run on the road - in which they have failed to score on three occasions - would be ideal preparation for a trip to Germany.
Moyes also returns to his former stomping ground seeking vengeance for Everton's 1-0 win at the London Stadium in October - the Toffees prevailed by the same scoreline at Goodison Park in 2022-23 - but not since Roberto Martinez was at the helm in 2014-15 have the hosts done the double over West Ham.
Team News
© Reuters
Just four minutes into the second half of Everton's stalemate with Brighton, midfielder Idrissa Gueye had to call it a day due to a groin injury, and Dyche will need to make a last-minute decision on his fitness.
Dele Alli's groin issue will certainly render him unavailable, though - Andre Gomes (calf) and Arnaut Danjuma (ankle) are in the same boat - and young attacker Lewis Dobbin is also a doubt for the contest owing to his own ankle concern.
If Gueye is not given the green light to take on the Hammers, the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is at risk of losing his place to Amadou Onana, but the latter is also struggling with a groin complaint and requires a late fitness test.
With regard to West Ham's availability, Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips - whose start to life with the Irons has been nothing short of nightmarish - has served his one-game ban for his sending off against Nottingham Forest and is available again.
Phillips's comeback means that Moyes is currently blessed with an almost complete squad for the trip north, as Aaron Cresswell has shaken off an Achilles complaint, but Maxwel Cornet will be missing for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.
Edson Alvarez is now one yellow card away from reaching 10 for the season and incurring a two-match ban, but the Mexico international is sure to keep Phillips at bay as Moyes sends out an untouched team.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Garner, Onana, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Bowen
We say: Everton 1-1 West Ham United
None of the last eight contests between Everton and West Ham has seen the two sides shake hands on a draw, but a battle between two low-block proprietors in Dyche and Moyes could give rise to a tense stalemate in what is often a low-scoring fixture.
West Ham may boast more difference-makers in the final third, but draw specialists Everton should step out to a buoyant Goodison atmosphere after a welcome points return and have a knack for keeping things tight at the back; only the top three sides have shipped fewer goals than Dyche's men this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
