Premier League: Silva and Fulham Bid Farewell to Goodison as Everton Find Form

Everton vs Fulham

I must admit these are two Premier League clubs with a pedigree to admire.

Their respective histories have featured some wonderful moments that their supporters will cherish forever.

Nowadays there is an element of transition about both, yet they have still made enough positive strides under their managers, Sean Dyche and Marco Silva, for their respective fanbases to be content.

The key question now is, can either build on last season and make the next step? It’s certainly not going to be easy.

 

Talking Points

As Silva, Toffees boss for 18 months in 2018 and 2019, heads to Goodison Park for the final time, he has a few decisions to wrestle with.

One is who replaces Danish centre-back Joachim Andersen in defence, as he is suspended following a red card against Aston Villa last weekend. Belgian defender Timothy Castagne remains out with a thigh problem.

The other is, will either Jorge Cuenca (ankle) or Carlos Vinicius (calf) be fit enough to make the squad.

One player Silva can rely on is Raul Jimenez, who has netted 10 times in his past 12 Premier League starts, including seven in his last seven at Craven Cottage.

It’s been a long road back for the Mexico striker since he suffered a fractured skull four years ago, an injury which threatened to derail his career. He is now repaying the trust the club has showed in him.

With support provided by Andreas Periera, who uncharacteristically missed a penalty in that game, Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe, and ex-Toffees winger Alex Iwobi, Fulham certainly have the attacking nucleus to trouble any opponent.

As for Everton, after a lousy start to the campaign they have found Premier League 2024 highlights easier to come by in recent weeks.

That seemed a big ask when they lost their first four Premier League matches, shipping 13 goals and successively losing 2-0 advantages against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

Yet they have conceded just two since to move five points clear of the relegation zone, regaining some of the defensive solidity Dyche’s teams are known for.

Indeed, they are slowly finding their rhythm and their 2-0 victory at newly promoted Ipswich last Saturday extended their unbeaten run to four games.

Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane scored the first half goals to put the Tractor Boys away, the former becoming a fan favourite on the blue side of Merseyside as he has netted in consecutive away matches already.

Dyche has confirmed that Jarrad Branthwaite and Jesper Lindstrom will both be included in his matchday squad on Saturday, as the former has recovered from a thigh injury and the latter is available after missing last weekend’s game though illness.

Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye are expected to link arms in the centre of the park – a partnership that partly reminds me of the ‘dogs of war’ partnership which led Everton to an FA Cup triumph in the mid-1990s – with in-form playmaker Dwight McNeil operating in the number 10 role.

 

History

January 1926 was when these two sides locked horns for the first time, in a third round FA Cup tie at Goodison Park.

The great Dixie Dean scored the Toffees’ goal in a 1-1 draw on that occasion before Fulham won the replay 1-0.

It wasn’t actually until Boxing Day 1949 that they met in the league, again at Goodison, again a 1-1 draw.

The sides met three times last season.

In the corresponding fixture, Bobby Decordova-Reid scored the only goal of the contest to earn the Cottagers an opening day success.

A League Cup tie last Christmas, also on Merseyside, ended 1-1 with Fulham winning on spot kicks.

The return league fixture in west London in late January ended level pegging as the sides played out a goalless draw.

 

Betting Tip

There’s not much between the sides when it comes to the SBOTOP Premier League 2024 betting odds but Fulham have a slight edge, priced 1X2 @ 2.47 compared to the hosts @ 2.62.

It’s almost identical too with Asian Handicap odds which include Everton -0.25 @ 2.33 and Fulham -0.25 @ 2.26.

A repeat of last year’s encounter, when Fulham sneaked a 1-0 victory, is on offer with Correct Score @ 8.20.

Although neither team could be said to be prolific in front of goal, there’s attacking talent on both sides so both are facts to consider when looking at Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.92, 2-3 @ 1.91, 4-6 @ 3.21 and Over 2.75 @ 2.23.

I think there will be goals, at least one for each side.

   

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