Two relegation-threatened teams lock horns at Goodison Park on Saturday as Everton play host to Leeds United in the Premier League.
While the Toffees have only won three of their 11 top-flight matches on home soil so far this season, the Whites have picked up maximum points just once in 11 league fixtures on the road.
Match preview
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Everton were unable to build on their hard-fought 1-0 home win over Arsenal in Sean Dyche's first game in charge, as they were beaten 2-0 in the Merseyside derby by rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Monday night.
Just 18 seconds after James Tarkowski struck the post with a header, a devastating Liverpool counter-attack resulted in Mohamed Salah tapping home a simple finish – largely thanks to the bizarre positioning of Jordan Pickford – before Conor Coady allowed a low-driven cross to reach Cody Gakpo to net his first Reds goal in the second half.
Everton have now lost 12 of their 22 Premier League matches this season and they remain in the relegation zone, sitting in 18th place, although only one point separates them from Saturday's opponents Leeds in 17th.
Goals have been hard to come by for the Toffees so far this season as they have found the net just 16 times in the Premier League, fewer than any other team in the division, and they have drawn a blank on nine occasions.
However, Everton have scored in nine of their last 10 encounters with Leeds, including a comfortable 3-0 home victory last season, and Dyche will be hoping for the Goodison Park faithful to provide another raucous atmosphere to spur on his side towards a much-needed three points this weekend.
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Four days after playing out a 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Leeds were beaten 2-0 by the Red Devils on home soil, courtesy of late strikes from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Interim boss Michael Skubala will have taken plenty of positives from the double-header with Man United, but he and his backroom staff are still searching for the winning formula, while the club continue to hunt for a permanent replacement for Jesse Marsch.
In the meantime, Leeds have confirmed that Skubala will remain in charge for the club's "upcoming fixtures" including Saturday's trip to Goodison Park, where they will endeavour to end their nine-game winless run – the longest such run of any club in the top flight.
Leeds, who have won only four of their 22 Premier League matches this season, have struggled to come away from Goodison Park with a positive result over the years, as they have won only one of their last 15 away games against Everton – a narrow 1-0 victory in November 2020.
However, the West Yorkshire outfit have already claimed maximum points on Merseyside this season, beating Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in October, and victory on Saturday would see them record away wins over both Liverpool and Everton in the same league season for the first time since the 1932-33 campaign.
Team News
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Everton will have to cope without injury-prone striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin as he continues to recover from a thigh problem, while Andros Townsend (knee), James Garner (back) and Nathan Patterson (knee) are also sidelined, although the latter two are closing in on a return and will feature for the club's Under-21s on Friday.
In the absence of Calvert-Lewin, Ellis Simms was handed a surprise start in his first Merseyside derby on Monday, and the 22-year-old could continue to lead the line ahead of Neal Maupay.
Dyche is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana all set to continue in centre-midfield as Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi operate on the flanks.
As for Leeds, Rodrigo, Archie Gray (both ankle), Adam Forshaw (groin), Stuart Dallas (leg) and Luis Sinisterra (thigh) are all ruled out with injuries, while Liam Cooper and Marc Roca are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
The Whites are able to welcome back Pascal Struijk, though, after he missed the home defeat against Man United due to concussion, while Sonny Perkins has returned to training after a spell out with an ankle injury and could be named in the matchday squad.
Struijk could be recalled at left-back at the expense of Junior Firpo, while Luke Ayling – who signed a contract extension with the club on Thursday – may lose his place at right-back to Rasmus Kristensen.
Crysencio Summerville, Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto are all expected to provide support in attack for Patrick Bamford, who is poised to start his fifth successive game up front.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Onana, Gueye, Doucoure, McNeil; Simms
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Wober, Struijk; Adams, McKennie; Summerville, Harrison, Gnonto; Bamford
We say: Everton 1-1 Leeds United
There is little to separate Everton and Leeds who will both view Saturday's fixture as a good opportunity to claim maximum points in their quest to move away from the relegation zone.
A 1-1 draw was played out at Elland Road earlier this season, and another closely-fought contest with the same result could be on the cards at Goodison Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
