The blue half of Merseyside get this week’s Premier League matches under way hosting Watford FC at Goodison Park. Everton are guaranteed European football next season. In their last fixture away at relegation-threatened Swansea City, which they lost 1-0, they were dismal and will be looking to end the season on a high.
The fans will be hoping for a great end-of-season game as it is Everton’s last game at Goodison this season. Their manager Ronald Koeman is expecting a busy summer so a few familiar faces may be playing their last game for the blues at their home.
Injuries and suspensions
Everton have quite a few of their players on the injury list. The following won’t be playing a part in Friday night’s fixture;
Seamus Coleman, though having committed his long-term future to the club last week, has a broken leg and is expected to be back by next year.
Yannick Bolasie and Ramiro Funes Mori are also out for the season with both players succumbing to long-term knee injuries.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is also out and is expected back for the last Game-week.
Dominic Calvert-Levin and Ademola Lookman are on international duty for the England u-20s in the u20 world cup in South Korea and will miss the rest of the season.
James McCarthy is out with a hamstring injury.
Predicted Everton line-up (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper- Joel Robles
The Spaniard is set to fill in for the injured Stekelenburg after losing his place to the Netherlands international for the past three games.
Defence
Ashley Williams has had a fruitful first season after his move from Swansea City and has established himself in the Everton back line. He will partner veteran centre-back Phil Jagielka who has been immense for Everton this season even though he has fallen down the pecking order.
Leighton Baines resumes his duties in the full-back role. Mason Holgate has proven himself in the absence of Coleman and continues to perform.
Midfield
Everton have managed to integrate the ever-dependable Morgan Schneiderlin into their first team, and the Frenchman will assist Idrissa Gueye in screening the back four. Breakout star Tom Davies played the full 90 at the Liberty stadium and is expected to start in a more attacking role on Friday.
Forwards
Ross Barkley has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons of late, and his contract stand-off with Everton reached a new low when his manager had this to say. That doesn’t seem to have affected his pitch time as he is expected to start tomorrow’s encounter.
The Englishman will line up alongside two Belgian stars in Kevin Mirallas and the want-away striker Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku has expressed his desire to leave this summer in search of a club which offers Champions league football. So Friday may be the last time Everton’s record Premier League goalscorer lines up at Goodison Park.