Premier League Preview: West Ham United - Everton

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EPL: Leighton Baines - Luis Boa Morte, Everton - West Ham United (PA)

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• Everton
• West Ham

Kick-Off: Sunday, November 8, 15:00.
Upton Park, East London.

Both West Ham United and Everton supporters would have wished for a better start to the season, as both teams find themselves in the lower realms of the table.

West Ham’s last minute victory over Aston Villa in midweek hauled the Irons out of the relegation zone, but results on Saturday could send the Hammers back amongst the bottom three ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Everton manager David Moyes witnessed his side get turned over for the second time in as many weeks by an impressive Benfica side on Thursday, with the sole positive being that their weekend opponents are unlikely to offer anywhere near as much offensive firepower.

Moyes’ will have needed further paracetamol to quell his injury headache this week, with news that defensive stalwart Phil Jagielka requires further surgery on damaged knee ligaments, moving his expected November return to the wrong side of the New Year. 

Moyes has said about Jagielka’s injury: “We think it has set him back four to six weeks. He was down initially but he's on the road to recovery now."

FORM GUIDE

West Ham United

West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa
Sunderland 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 2-2 Arsenal
Stoke City 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 2-2 Fulham

Everton

Everton 0–2 Benfica (Europa League)
Everton 1–1 Aston Villa
Tottenham 2-0 Everton (League Cup)
Bolton 3-2 Everton
Benfica 5-0 Everton (Europa League)

TEAM NEWS

West Ham United

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is sweating over the fitness of star striker Carlton Cole and fullback Herita Ilunga ahead of Sunday’s match.  Both players limped off during the midweek victory over Aston Villa and could miss the match against Everton.

Last-gasp goal hero Zavon Hines should replace Cole, while Radoslav Kovac returns from suspension.

The Hammers remain without long-term absentees Dean Ashton (ankle), Luis Boa Morte (knee), Calum Davenport (leg) and Kieron Dyer (hamstring).

Starting XI from last league match (4-4-2): Green, Behrami, Upson, Da Costa, ILunga (doubtful), Faubert, Parker, Noble, Collison, Franco, Cole (doubtful).

Everton

David Moyes’ side have been slashed by injuries and fatigue, and travel to Upton Park on the back of yet another morale-dropping result.

Russian midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended after his red card against Aston Villa, but striker Louis Saha should recover in time from his calf problem.

David Moyes has the luxury of bringing in fresh recruits in the form of John Heitinga and Lucas Neill, both having been ineligible for their Europa League match in midweek.

The list of dead certainties to miss Sunday’s match is worryingly long for Evertonians, with Victor Anichebe, Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka, Phil Neville, Steven Pienaar and James Vaughan all out with knee injuries, while Leon Osman also misses out with a foot injury.

Starting XI from last league match (4-4-1-1): Howard, Neill, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Cahill, Rodwell, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov (suspended), Fellaini, Yakubu.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham – Zavon Hines

Should Carlton Cole be unavailable for the match, manager Gianfranco Zola has a special replacement for the England striker.  Zavon Hines has been impressive this season, mostly during his substitute appearances, and has already shown that he can be a match-winner in the top flight. 

Hines has found the back of the net three times in thirteen appearances this season, but it is arguably his 'fouls against' statistics that read more encouragingly for Hammers fans.  Hines has been on the receiving end of twenty fouls thus far, most noticeably winning penalties in the matches against Liverpool and, most recently, Aston Villa. 

Everton – Tim Cahill

Although the Australian has yet to reach the peak of his form so far this season, manager David Moyes will be more than aware that it is simply a matter of time before he does.

Cahill has so far bagged 48 goals in 178 appearances for the Toffees, giving him a goal scoring record of better than one in every four matches he plays.  The Australian is a lethal finisher in and around the penalty area, and West Ham will have to watch him closely at set-pieces due to his heading prowess.

PREDICTION

Despite their recent upturn in form, Gianfranco Zola knows that his side cannot rest on their laurels as they attempt to achieve breathing space above the relegation zone.

Everton have been in all sorts of trouble of late, having not won a match in all competitions since beating FC BATE 2-1 in the Europa League on the first day of October.

The two sides are quite evenly matched and the game is likely to be decided by the odd goal.  Morale will be an important factor going in this match, and for that reason I feel that West Ham will be slight favorites.  Everton ran out 3-1 winners in this fixture last season, but a draw is the best result I can foresee for the Toffees this time out.

West Ham United 2-1 Everton

Richard Parry, Goal.com

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