Everton Vs Fulham

This Saturday, Everton will look to extend their unbeaten streak to five consecutive Premier League matches as they welcome a faltering Fulham side to Goodison Park.

The two teams will meet for the first time since their encounter in January, which ended in a goalless stalemate at Craven Cottage.

After starting the 2024-25 season with four defeats, during which they conceded 12 goals, recent adjustments under manager Sean Dyche have revitalized the Toffees, allowing them to amass eight points from their last four Premier League fixtures.

Everton secured a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in their final match before the international break. However, they returned to winning ways last weekend, triumphing 2-0 against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane both found the back of the net in the first half, leading to a satisfying victory for the visitors.

Dyche praised his team’s performance, labeling it as “very strong,” particularly noting their second consecutive clean sheet. For the majority of the match, the Toffees' defense was impenetrable, with the hosts failing to register a single shot on target in the first 80 minutes. Everton currently sits in 16th place in the Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone.

Historically, October has been a challenging month for Everton as they seek to improve their form. Since the 2022-2023 season commenced, the team has averaged only 1.55 points per game in October. In stark contrast, their performance in August and September yielded a mere 0.75 points per game. Notably, Everton has achieved six clean sheets in their last seven league matches during this month.

However, their record against Fulham at Goodison Park has deteriorated recently. The Toffees have lost their last three league encounters with the Cottagers on home soil without managing to score. Previously, Everton was unbeaten in 27 league fixtures against Fulham since 1949, winning 23 and drawing four, with the last 22 meetings all ending in victory for the Toffees.

Before the start of this crucial stretch of 11 matches, Fulham had only managed to secure 15 points, with their two losses occurring in August and September. These defeats were somewhat mitigated by a victory over Oxford United and three consecutive draws against Swansea City, Sheffield Wednesday, and Cardiff City.

In terms of player changes, Issa Diop is expected to step in for Calvin Bassey in central defense as Joachim Andersen serves a one-match suspension due to his red card against Aston Villa.

Raul Jimenez, who has scored three goals in his last four Premier League matches, is likely to lead the attack for Fulham. He will have support from Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe, and former Everton winger Alex Iwobi as they aim to penetrate the Toffees' defense.

As Everton prepares for this clash, they are hoping to build on their recent form and continue their ascent away from the relegation zone, while Fulham will be eager to shake off their struggles and find a much-needed victory.