Everton take on Huddersfield Town tomorrow at Goodison Park in a game they really need to win.
Last weekend’s frustrating draw at Bournemouth has to be out aside now and Everton need to re-group and secure three points against the Terriers.
The biggest question is how will the Blues line-up at the back perform as they have so many central defenders out and unavailable and will start with another brand new centre-back partnership of Mason Holgate and Kurt Zouma (presumably).
And this is the main worry going into tomorrow’s match. In each of the previous three Premier League matches Everton have conceded goals due to defensive lapses having taken the lead in all three games.
There has been so much welcome improvement in the Toffees attacking threat this season, and the team need to ensure they don’t keep on nullifying that threat by letting opponents back into games that should be won.
Last week’s trip to Bournemouth was a perfect example. Having rode the misfortune of yet another red card as Richarlison was sent off, the Blues nevertheless took a two goal lead only to squander it again and have to settle for one point instead of three.
Everton really should have nine points this season and not five. And the efforts of forwards Richarlison, Walcott and Sigurdsson who have been outstanding so far, is being undermined by these defensive lapses.
First and foremost in Saturday’s game, (as well as a win of course), is not to concede. Gaining a clean sheet would be a really important step forward in beginning to restore that defensive solidity.
Although Everton are starting with a makeshift backline, fortunately tomorrow’s opponents Huddersfield are not a prolific goal threat.
The Yorkshire club have really struggled to find the back of the net this season. In their first three games they have only managed one goal, in their heavy defeat at Manchester City.
This lack of goal threat is summed up in their statistics on goal attempts, which are just over 5 per game, half Everton’s total. So the Toffees shouldn’t be facing a great deal of attacking threat.
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As well as scoring only once Huddersfield have conceded nine goals already in the League. But they will be organised and hard-working and will presumably be set up to frustrate Everton for as long as possible. And they are a real threat from set-pieces.
Huddersfield have punched above their weight these past two season’s since gaining promotion to the Premier League but their chances of staying up this season look precarious.
However they won’t go down without a fight. So the Blues will have to be patient and look to break them down. It might take a long time to get a breakthrough and the Toffees will have to be wary of a quick counter-attack, especially with a new and untested defence in place.
Frankly given how tempestuous Everton’s matches have been so far this season, I’d happily settle for a boring 1-0 win tomorrow.