Everton vs Stoke City. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,581.
Saturday 27 August 2016 15:17, UK
Jack Butland remains sidelined for Stoke but Xherdan Shaqiri could return as they prepare to face Everton in the Premier League.
The England goalkeeper is still on his way back from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season, and while Potters boss Mark Hughes is hopeful Shaqiri can feature, he will be assessed ahead of the trip.
Stoke are yet to win in the Premier League this season - routed 4-1 by Manchester City last weekend - and will be hoping their 4-0 EFL Cup win over Stevenage can boost their chances of three points at Goodison Park.
Everton also won by the same scoreline in their EFL Cup game against Sky Bet League Two side Yeovil on Tuesday to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
However, Toffees manager Ronald Koeman has said he is pleased with how his new side have begun under his tenure, but knows that Saturday's game poses another tricky task.
"It's been a good start to the season because it was difficult in pre-season. We have already played two Premier League games and I think four points out of that is positive," he said.
"But we know we have to be prepared for the next one. The victory at West Brom gave us a lot of confidence but we know that Stoke is always a tough game. We need to be prepared for that."
Aside from Butland and Shaqiri, Glen Johnson is also expected to miss the next few weeks as he recovers from a thigh muscle strain and Hughes admitted the club were being careful with the defender.
Peter Crouch could force his way into the manager's plans after his hat-trick against Stevenage in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, while Glenn Whelan could make his 250th Premier League appearance if he is selected.
Koeman confirmed that Seamus Coleman will miss the visit of the Potters as he continues to suffer with an ankle injury and Muhamed Besic remaining a long-term absentee.
James McCarthy, Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley are also small doubts, while new signings Yannick Bolasie and Ashley Williams will be targeting their first league starts after coming on as substitutes at West Brom last weekend.
Everton have scored exactly three goals in their last two Premier League contests with Stoke but have won only once, losing the other 3-4 in this exact fixture in December.
Stoke have won three of their last five visits to Goodison Park in the Premier League, including the last two (L2).
Romelu Lukaku has scored three goals in his last two Premier League appearances against Stoke City, this after netting just one in his first six versus them.
Lukaku has not scored or assisted a single goal in any of his last 10 Premier League appearances for Everton, a run stretching back to March 19th.
In fact, this is Lukaku's longest goal drought in his Premier League career (10 successive appearances).
Mark Hughes' side have secured just two wins in their last 12 Premier League fixtures (W2 D4 L6), picking up only 10 points from a possible 36.
Jonathan Walters has appeared 11 times against Everton in the Premier League without scoring; his joint-longest such run against an opponent in the competition.
Stoke have scored just one first half goal in their last seven Premier League matches, with five of their six goals in this period coming after half-time.
Kevin Mirallas has scored in three of his last five Premier League appearances for Everton; more than he scores in his previous 24 apps in the competition (2).
Everton are my dark horses in the league this season and if they can keep Lukaku they have every chance of doing something.
Stoke have only got a point from their first two games and I think Everton will have a bit too much for them on Saturday.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
There's a feel-good factor around Goodison Park again following the appointment of Koeman and news that Lukaku will remain at the club, and the Belgian striker is 7/2 favourite to make his mark with the opening goal of the game against Stoke on Saturday.
The corresponding fixture ended 4-3 to the Potters last season and Sky Bet offer 200/1 for a repeat scoreline, with Hughes' men 19/5 for the win and 13/5 to escape with a point.
Both teams to score is a shade of odds-on at 5/6 and both sides to register in the second half is an 11/4 chance, while Everton to win and the game to produce over 2.5 goals is 13/8.
