Everton will host Fulham at Goodison Park in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening, with a place in the semi-finals on the line.
Everton will look to book their place in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, and they will certainly be the favourites to progress from their quarter-final against Fulham at Goodison Park on Tuesday night. The home team have picked up five wins and a defeat from their last six outings.
On the other hand, Fulham are coming into this game on the back of three defeats from their last six matches across all competitions. The Cottagers suffered a disastrous 3-0 loss to Newcastle United this past weekend, with Raul Jimenez seeing red.
Fulham have done quite well against Everton in recent seasons, and the Toffees will have to be careful against the West London club. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Everton
The home side will be without the services of Dele Alli because of a groin injury. Vitaliy Mykolenko is ruled out with a similar problem. Seamus Coleman and Ashley Young are unavailable with undisclosed injuries. Meanwhile, Andre Gomes remains a long-term injury absentee. Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure has picked up a thigh injury.
Everton will shape up in their usual 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Nathan Patterson and Jarrad Branthwaite are likely to be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact at the back and help out in the attack. James Tarkowski will start alongside Michael Keane at the heart of the defence.
Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison will be deployed as the wingers, and they will look to add creativity and goals from the wide areas. Amadou Onana should start alongside James Garner in the midfield. The two players will look to add defensive cover and drive to the Everton midfield.
Arnaut Danjuma is likely to be deployed in the hole behind the striker in Doucoure’s absence with Beto leading the line for Everton against Fulham. So, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Youssef Chermiti will be backup attackers on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Branthwaite; Harrison, Onana, Garner, McNeil; Danjuma; Beto
Fulham
The visitors will be without Adama Traore who has a thigh injury. Tim Ream misses out with a calf injury, while Raul Jimenez is suspended after seeing red this past weekend in the Premier League. Calvin Bassey has an illness, and he is unlikely to be involved either.
Fulham will shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Bernd Leno in goal. Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to help out during counterattacks and protect the central defenders. Issa Diop will start at the heart of the defence alongside Tosin Adarabioyo.
In the midfield, Joao Palhinha will star as the central defensive midfielder alongside Andreas Pereira and Tom Cairney. Palhinha will look to break up the opposition attacks, while Pereira and Cairney will add creativity to the side. Finally, Carlos Vinicius should lead the line for Fulham, with Harry Wilson and Bobby De Cordova-Reid featuring on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Cairney, Palhinha, Pereira; Wilson, Vinicius, Cordova-Reid
Key Stats
- Everton are unbeaten in five of the last six matches across all competitions.
- Fulham have failed to win three of the last six matches across all competitions.
- Fulham have won four of the last six matches against Everton.
- 14 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
Player to Watch
James Garner
Everton will look to dominate the midfield contest here, and Garner will be a key player for them. The English midfielder has been outstanding for Everton in his last few outings, and he is one of the main reasons they are on an impressive run of form.
The 22-year-old is excellent with his long-range passing and ability to hold on to the ball. He will add creativity and defensive steel to the Everton midfield. With Abdoulaye Doucoure missing out, Garner’s performance will hold the key for Everton.
Prediction
Everton 2-1 Fulham
Although the West London club have an impressive head-to-head record against Everton, this is likely to be a difficult contest for them. Everton are full of confidence and momentum right now, and they will be the favourites at home.
Sean Dyche will demand a strong performance from his players, and Everton should be able to extend their fine run of form in front of their own fans. A narrow home win is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts Dyche and his charges to reach the EFL Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.