Match Preview: Everton v Watford Blues take on Watford Saturday at Goodison Park

After an underwhelming opening day 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, Everton have their first home game of the new season as they take on Watford on Saturday.

This match represents another very winnable game for Everton to start the season with and the Blues need to take all the points this weekend.

The Toffees home form was pretty good last season, especially during the final third of the campaign as Everton finished strongly. They need to maintain that excellent form at Goodison Park.

Watford are coming off a chastening defeat at Vicarage Road to Brighton last Saturday, so they will be keen to respond and continue what has been a decent record at Everton in recent seasons.

Both clubs have a difficult past history, to say the least. The long-running saga over Marco Silva’s switch to the Toffees has created bad blood between them. There was also the signing of Richarlison last summer.

For the home team there is a definite need to up their game after that disappointing and frustrating stalemate at Crystal Palace.

Everton should be able to welcome back midfielder Fabian Delph who seems to be recovering from injury, while new forward Alex Iwobi has been training all week so both might be seen for the first time on Saturday.

Of the two, it’s Delph, if fit, that will be the player most likely to start given the absence of Morgan Schniederlin following his red card at Palace.

Jean-Philipe Gbamin looked a little off the pace on Saturday when he came on and probably needs a bit more time to get to the pace of the Premier League.

Delph of course has plenty of relevant experience and so would be a good bet to take Schniederlin’s place in the team.

The defence looks solid and settled. Michael Keane and Yerry Mina are developing a strong central defence partnership.

Critically as everyone knows, the Blues must improve their performance in front of goal. This has been the side’s most chronic problem for a long time.

After his disappointing efforts last weekend, it will be interesting to see whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin starts again up front or if Marco Silva decides to take a chance and give Moise Kean a start.

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I would guess probably not, as it might still be too soon for the ex-Juventus youngster to get a full 90 minutes.

Whoever does get the nod, needs to show the proper ruthlessness in front of goal and obviously take any chances that are created.

Watford didn’t make headline-grabbing signings during the summer and are basically the same strong, athletic side they have been over the past few seasons.

Last weekend’s unexpectedly decisive defeat will have hurt them and so Everton must expect some sort of reaction. Even so I think the Blues can and really must, secure their first three points of the season.