Everton are all set to kick-start their 2023/24 Premier League season with a home game against Fulham on Saturday.
Fulham will hit the road to square up against Everton at the Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. The Merseyside club struggled last season, while the Cottagers were in a much more comfortable position. This time out, both will look to improve on their last season’s performances.
Everton escaped relegation by the smallest of margins. They ended up finishing 17th on the points table, just two points clear of the drop zone. After surviving in the English top flight, they will be looking to ensure they do not end up in a similar situation next season.
The Toffees were on fire in the pre-season. They were unbeaten throughout winning four out of their five matches and will head into the opening fixture high on confidence. So Sean Dyche will be eager to hit the ground running in the new season.
Meanwhile, the Cottagers finished tenth on the points table last season, with 52 points to their name. They were consistent throughout and never really had to worry about any relegation threat. After cementing a top-half finish last season, Marco Silva will look to build on it in the 2023/24 campaign.
Fulham had a mixed bag of results in the pre-season, featuring in four friendlies while winning two and losing two. They squared up against three Premier League teams during the pre-season and ended up losing two of those fixtures which suggests there is still a lot to be done. The opening fixture between the two teams is all set to be a good test for both sides. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could put into use.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
Final prep before matchday 1 👊 pic.twitter.com/oiPn4eVrNr
— Everton (@Everton) August 11, 2023
Sean Dyche will be without the services of Dwight McNeil, Seamus Coleman and Dele Alli for their opening fixture. Apart from the trio loanee Arnaut Danjuma is still doubtful. Meanwhile, they do have a boost as James Tarkowski is fit and will be leading the team in the absence of Coleman. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has returned from injury and could start in their opening fixture.
Dyche could start with the 4-4-1-1 formation, where Alex Iwobi might feature as an attacking midfielder behind star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure could start out wide in the centre of the park.
Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana should start in a more central role in the midfield. Meanwhile, Nathan Patterson should start alongside summer signing Ashley Young as the full-backs. Michael Keane and Tarkowski should be the centre-back pairing. Jordan Pickford is expected to continue at this number one in goal.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Garner, Gueye, Onana, Doucoure; Iwobi; Calvert-Lewin
Fulham
Marco Silva will be without the services of star midfielder Joao Palhinha who sustained a shoulder injury in the pre-season. Meanwhile, Tom Cairney is also a doubt for this trip to Everton.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has been linked with a move away from the club throughout the summer. But, Fulham have not agreed to a deal so far. While Silva has said that their star striker is committed, he might not start. And, summer signing Raul Jimenez might make his official debut for the club.
💬 On Mitro's availability: "100% sure. Mitro was able to play last week. He has been working every single day with his teammates."#EVEFUL pic.twitter.com/8uIsOeWnx1
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 10, 2023
The Cottagers should start the match in the 4-2-3-1 formations, where Bernd Leno will be in goal. Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson should be the full-backs. In the heart of the defence, Tim Ream should pair up with Issa Diop.
As far as the midfield is concerned, Harrison Reed should partner alongside Sasa Lukic. The double-pivot duo will look to support their back line and control the pace of the game. Andreas Pereira will feature in the no. 10 role while Willian and Harry Wilson will provide the width to their attacks. They will look to stretch the opposition’s backline and supply balls to their new number-nine Jimenez.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Ream, Diop, Robinson; Reed, Lukic; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Everton have come out on top on 31 out of 67 matches against Fulham. While the away team have only won 22 matches.
- Everton have lost their last two home games against the Cottagers.
- In the Premier League history, the Cottagers have lost both their opening weekend matches against the Merseyside club.
- Fulham have won three out of their last five matches against Everton in the English top flight.
- The Toffees have lost only one out of their last 12 matchday 1 fixtures in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Everton’s number nine Dominic Calvert-Lewin has not had the best of times over the last two seasons. He has missed a lot of games because of injuries, and it has surely derailed his progress. Last season, the 26-year-old could only feature in 18 matches and was on the pitch for close to 1,200 minutes.
He contributed towards just three goals. His absence was a major reason why Everton struggled in front of goals. With the England international back fit, he is expected to play a major part in the season opener and could be the difference between the two teams.
Prediction
Everton 2-2 Fulham
Everton might have struggled for survival last season but they did show signs of progress under Sean Dyche. And, they are expected to be a much better outfit this season. Meanwhile, Fulham did a decent job last season and they will look to build on it in the 2023/24 campaign.
On paper, it looks like both teams have enough quality to come out on top at the end of the final whistle. It will be a closely contested fixture and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw.
