Prince Rupert's Tower
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Can Everton end home hoodoo against Blades

By Matt Townsend

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton and Ben Osborn of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Everton at Bramall Lane on December 26, 2020 in Sheffield, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Visionhaus)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton and Ben Osborn of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Everton at Bramall Lane on December 26, 2020 in Sheffield, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Visionhaus) /
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With three matches left Everton take on Sheffield United tomorrow night knowing once again that nothing less than three points will do. So can the Toffees turn around their terrible home record?

Instinctively I’m tempted to say no they can’t because this Everton team has had so many of these games at home this season and has failed to win them when they really should.

With no disrespect to the sides they have lost to at Goodison Park, but they should be beating teams like West Ham, Newcastle United, Fulham and Burnley at home.

All those teams came to the Grand Old Lady and left with the points so given that there’s not much basis for feeling optimistic about tomorrow evening’s game.

Another factor is the Blues chronic inability to win these pressure matches when so much is riding upon the outcome. Thurday’s match at Villa Park was the most recent example.

And in addition, their opponents have nothing left to worry about this season following their relegation and might well play with a freedom that sometimes follows when a team is lifted of such burdens. They can then perform better than they might do if they were still fighting for survival. Let’s hope that’s not the case on Sunday.

Alternatively of course with nothing riding on the game the Blades players might not be interested, we will see.

Thinking about the possible team Carlo Ancelotti might pick, the Everton manager has revealed that his Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez is fit and able to play against the Blades.

However, his international team-mate Yerry Mina is still out with his latest injury problem and won’t be playing tomorrow night.

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Having Rodriguez back will certainly help to improve the creativity and goal threat in the Toffees team and perhaps team morale as well.

If Rodriguez starts, then I would imagine Ancelotti will otherwise pick the same side that lined up against Villa, after all he doesn’t have much alternative.

But one change I would be tempted to consider making is perhaps to give Josh King a start alogside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison and have Rodriguez on the bench to bring him on later, especially as he’s is not 100% match fit.

Ancelotti obviously doesn’t rate his Noway international forward and didn’t even bring him on against Villa on Thursday night when the Toffees desperately needed the points.

But why not give him a chance tomorrow and give the Blues the maximum chance of winning? After all there’s no point in Everton drawing this match, they need three points nothing else will do, so to speak.