Everton have to beat bottom club Norwich
As the Premier League returns this weekend, Everton play their last game at Goodison Park for several weeks as the Toffees take on the Canaries, Norwich City on Saturday.
Yes once more this is a must win game for Everton and still under-pressure boss Marco Silva. Nothing less than three points will satisfy this weekend.
The Blues go into this match having secured their first away win of the season with victory at Southampton before the international break.
Too often though the Toffees have followed up important wins with sub-par performances and defeats that have undermined any small signs of progress. That can’t be allowed to happen on Saturday afternoon, especially given the Blues upcoming fixtures.
The Blues go into this game with several major injury absences. Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are out for a long period of time of course. Gbamin is out until at least the new year and Gomes probably until the beginning of next season, perhaps longer.
Other absentees are Fabian Delph and Bernard. The Brazilian’s injury has been overshadowed by the Gomes incident, but his quality and ability to play anywhere across the front line and his relationship with Lucas Digne, have been a positive factor for Everton.
Delph has become more important with Gomes injury. His experience, defensive strength and game nous will be crucial supporting Tom Davies and allowing him to play his natural game.
Both are to be assessed ahead of the game against Norwich.
If neither are fit enough to play then presumably Marco Silva will go with the same team that faced Southampton.
Continued stability in team selection has some merit to it and particularly maintaining a consistent defensive unit is important to giving the Toffees a stable base to build from.
I was advocating for Mason Holgate to get a chance alongside Yerry Mina at centre-back and since he has come into the side he’s looked good and complements the massive Colombian well.
Although Micheal Keane’s form has been poor this season, part of the problem is that he and Mina are too similar. Both are very strong, solid, almost old-fashioned defenders. Both need a player with pace and the ability to recover to support them and make a good partnership.
Moving into midfield, if Delph isn’t able to play, then that means Morgan Schniederlin will be starting in the middle alongside Davies. That always worries me given how indifferent Schniederlin’s form has been.
However Davies energy and work rate does seem to help the Frenchman perform better and in some ways his game replicates former midfielder Idrissa Gueye. After all, Schniederlin’s best days at Everton were when he first came into the side and played alongside Gana.
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Looking at the Blues attack, there are more choices for Silva.
Hopefully he will continue with Alex Iwobi rather than Gylfi Sigurdsson in the role of link between midfield and attack. Alongside him I think that Theo Walcott and Richarlison will probably start as Moise Kean continues to be frozen out.
Whoever actually plays on Saturday, Everton must be looking to score goals against a team in Norwich who have been very vulnerable at the back this season.
It would be good to see the Blues win big for once, it’s been a long time since that has happened.
I’ve been very reluctant to make predictions recently with Everton’s erratic form, but I’m going to this week and predict a 4-1 win for the Toffees! So let’s hope they don’t let me down.