Match Preview
Everton v Fulham
Premier League Match Day 30 22-23 at Goodison Park
Saturday 15th April 2023 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
|
Fulham head to Everton on Saturday aiming to correct their poor run of form.
The Cottagers have fallen off massively after giving themselves a real chance of qualifying for Europe, losing five straight games in all competitions.
Losing to Brentford narrowly, against league leaders Arsenal, and to Manchester United in extraordinary circumstances in the FA Cup were all forgivable, but defeats to Bournemouth and West Ham since the international break have been concerning, especially considering the Hammers lost 5-1 at home to Newcastle United just days prior.
Each defeat leaves their European hopes dangling by a thread as Marco Silva's men are now seven points adrift of the top seven.
Coming to Goodison Park is not the ideal location for them to try to return to form either, given their notoriously poor record at this stadium.
They won 2-0 here behind closed doors in 2021, but before that, they had the longest away winless run any club has had against a single opponent in top-flight history.
A run of 22 consecutive defeats preceded that win in front of an empty Goodison, as they were also winless in 27 visits dating back to 1949.
Manager Silva will also be looking for a first win over Everton - he lost 3-2 here with Watford after being 2-0 up in 2017, with former Everton man Tom Cleverley missing a 101st-minute penalty.
Sean Dyche's men play earlier than many of the sides fighting relegation with them, meaning a win could give them a psychological edge.
In order to gain those three valuable points, Everton must improve on their last performance, when their four-game unbeaten streak came to an end at Old Trafford.
A 2-0 defeat to Manchester United extended an absolutely woeful away record which has seen them win just two of their last 32 away Premier League games.
The absence of Abdoulaye Doucoure was evident in the Everton midfield, as replacing him with Ellis Simms and moving Demarai Gray further back greatly reduced the intensity and energy in the middle of the park.
Erik ten Hag's side were able to cut Everton open at will, drawing nine saves out of Jordan Pickford over the 90 minutes - the second-highest tally of any goalkeeper in a single PL game this season.
It has been a different story on home soil for the blue half of Merseyside under Dyche though, as they have taken 10 points from a possible 15 on offer since the ex-Burnley boss took charge.
Four of the five sides they have faced at Goodison are in the top half as well, which makes that record appear even more impressive, with Fulham also entering the weekend in the ninth.
There is increased pressure on this fixture for the hosts though, given how results went against them last weekend, with West Ham United, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace all winning.
Wins for so many of Everton's direct rivals saw them fall to 17th, only outside the bottom three on goal difference ahead of Nottingham Forest.
Shooting a blank at Old Trafford also saw them return to the bottom of the scoring charts outright again, as their striking woes continue with a dismal 23 goals in 30 games.
|
-
Everton have lost only two of their last 14 league games against Fulham (W9, D3).
-
However, Fulham's victory on their most recent league visit in February 2021 ended a run of 22 defeats at Goodison Park.
-
Fulham have lost five consecutive matches in all competitions, including four in the Premier League - the longest current losing streak of any top-flight side. They had lost only four of the previous 16 league fixtures.
-
Seventeen of Fulham's Premier League matches this season have been won by a one-goal margin (W8, L9), the joint-most of any side, along with Southampton.
-
A sixth victory away from home would equal the club top-flight record.
-
Fulham have lost five of their eight Premier League fixtures without Aleksandar Mitrovic this season, scoring only eight goals in total.
-
Marco Silva is winless in all three Premier League matches as a manager versus Everton, including losing both games at Goodison Park: 4-0 with Hull City in March 2017 and 3-2 with Watford in November 2017.
-
Willian created five chances for Fulham in their 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, his most in a Premier League game for the Cottagers.
-
Everton have 27 points after 30 Premier League matches, one point fewer than they had at this stage of last season. In 2021-22, the Toffees took 11 points from their final eight league games to finish 16th, four points above the relegation zone.
-
Everton have picked up 12 points in 10 Premier League fixtures under Sean Dyche, having amassed 15 points in their 20 league games under Frank Lampard this season.
-
Ten of the 12 Premier League points won under Dyche have come at Goodison Park. All three victories were by a 1-0 scoreline.
-
Everton have scored multiple goals in only one of their 15 Premier League home matches this season, a 3-0 win versus Crystal Palace on 22 October.
-
The Toffees have netted only seven goals in their nine Premier League home games since that victory.
-
Under Dyche, Everton have played a league-high 615 long passes.
`
`
Source Andrew Delaney at SportsMole