Everton enter Saturday’s fixture with Fulham winless at The Cottage since November 2020, with this season’s previous game at Goodison seeing the points shared. Alex Iwobi scored on his last appearance at Goodison Park to give his side the lead before an injury-time equalizer from Beto rescued a point.
Fulham’s threat on the left
A player that Everton know all about is Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian international is Fulham’s leading goal contributor this season with 15 goals and assists. Playing off the left-hand side, the former Toffee is having his most productive season of his playing career, outperforming his best for Arsenal and Everton.
His partnership with Antonee Robinson has provided 16 assists from Fulham’s left this campaign, with the winger providing six of them. Iwobi’s preference of drifting inside off the wide channel has allowed Robinson to exploit spaces high in the attacking third.
Antonee Robinson, another Everton connection from the early stages of his career, is the Premier League's leading assist provider from the fullback position. Robinson is also having his best output in goal contributions of his career and has been a star performer in the league this season.
The USA international’s relentless running, matched with Iwobi’s craftiness inside off the channel, has been a conundrum for many teams this season. Constant overlaps requiring the attention of any defensive duo on the right, with the danger of allowing Iwobi to threaten in the spaces in between.
Everton’s weakness defensively on the right-hand side was on show for all to see against Ipswich and will be a worry heading into Saturday. Nathan Patterson will have to be on high alert when matching up against Iwobi and Robinson, that’s if he is given the nod in the starting lineup again after a difficult game against Julio Enciso last time out.
Regardless of who starts at right-back, a willing defensive runner will need to be in support on Everton’s right. McNeil’s return to the goals was good to see after an injury hit season, but the question will be, can he provide the defensive work rate that Fulham’s left will demand?
Jack Harrison may be an option that Moyes deploys on the right, with McNeil maybe switching to left. This would leave Moyes with a decision of whether to keep Alcaraz or Ndiaye in the side at the 10 position. A complete reshuffle could also take place to keep both in the midfield, with Moyes still looking for the answers to what brings the best performance out of his team.
Raul Jimenez
The Mexican international has fired 12 goals in all competitions, with 10 goals in the league to lead the attacking line. Surpassing his goal return from his first season with Fulham after his $6.42 million transfer from Wolves.
The Fulham striker is scoreless since March 8th, scoring in a 2-1 loss away at Brighton. This will ring a few alarm bells for Everton fans, with a feeling that a player in need of a goal facing Everton, that drought could soon be over. Nicolas Jackson was scoreless in 13 Premier League games before ending his rut against the Toffees.
However, away from his goals, Jiminez is a handful due to his aggressive all-round play. He will occupy both O’Brien and Branthwaite’s attention throughout the game, a danger from crosses, craftiness with the ball at his feet, and a sharp finisher given time and space.
Everton need intent in the final third
David Moyes will hope his side can nullify the attacking threats of Fulham and would certainly welcome a solid defensive performance after three games without a clean sheet. However, the attacking intent of the Toffees for a spell in the first half at Goodison on Saturday will be something they will want to focus on sustaining.
Against Ipswich the game was controlled for much of it, providing more frustration as to how Everton still let up two goals. The control however didn’t yield a sense that more goals were coming, especially in a second half where there was a lot of possession in the opposition half.
Fulham have the fourth-fewest clean sheets in the league this season, with five; only the relegated sides have fewer. When Everton get into the attacking third, it needs to have substance. Crosses of quality like that of Alcaraz and McNeil against Ipswich will be a must.
Set-piece goals have lacked a killer punch since the appointment of Charlie Adam as set-piece coach. A goal from one would certainly be welcomed, but any goals that result in an Everton win will be valued all the same.