Everton will face Fulham on Saturday at Goodison Park. Both teams are in positions that they are likely to finish in this season and so many could perceive this game to be a relaxed one, but with mangers David Moyes and Martin Jol at the helm, this is unlikely.
Team News
Moyes says both Darron Gibson and Phil Jagielka will have a chance of playing. Jagielka missed the trip to Sunderland after re-opening the gash suffered against Reading and Gibson was replaced at half time last week after feeling a small thigh strain. Tony Hibbert could make his long awaited return to the squad as Moyes gets a full bill of health for the first time all season.
Fulham boss Martin Jol has said that Damien Duff will return and Sascha Reither will undergo a late fitness test. Former Blue and injury write-off Simon Davies is a long term absentee and is joined by Diarra and Dejagah.
Threats
Dimitar Berbatov is the obvious candidate for Fulham. Although he hasn’t a great goalscoring record against Everton, the classy Bulgarian is the forefront of the Fulham side and is the player the away side will look to get involved most often. Berbatov can be quiet for 89 minutes but can produce a fantastic finish with an inch of space in the box.
As I always like to pick an obvious one and a not so obvious one, I’m going for John Arne Riise. The left-back has surprisingly yet to score a goal for Fulham yet, and it would be just Everton that he pop up with his first on Saturday giving his old club Liverpool a chance to catch up the Blues.
Predicted Everton Line Up
Howard
Coleman Heitinga Distin Baines
Gibson Osman
Mirallas Fellaini Pienaar
Anichebe
Predicted Fulham Line Up
Schwarzer
Reither Senderos Hangeland Riise
Duff Enoh Karagounis Emmanuelson
Ruiz
Berbatov
Match Officials
Referee: J Moss
Assistant referee: M McDonough
Assistant referee: A Holmes
Fourth official: M Jones