Everton’s newfound confidence and positivity could be set to reach its highest point in recent years tonight, as they host a Fulham side who stand in the way of the EFL Cup semi-final.
Having handed Aston Villa their only home loss of the season across all competitions in the last round, already the Toffees have made their mark on the competition.
Well, with Manchester City also having been dumped out, it truly feels like this trophy is there for the taking.
With two in-form sides going head-to-head, it promises to be an enthralling fixture, in which the visitors actually came away with the win earlier in the season. However, since then, things have changed dramatically.
Sean Dyche’s men are flying, and are now showcasing a shared proficiency and solidity that has helped them win their last four Premier League games, failing to concede once.
It will take an almighty task to breach their backline tonight, made even harder due to the absence of their main marksman Raul Jimenez.
The Mexican forward saw his yellow card upgraded to a red on Saturday, and as well as leaving his team in the lurch against Newcastle United, was handed a three-match ban too.
How is unavailable for Everton tonight vs Fulham?
Having joined for £5m in the summer, many questioned the 32-year-old’s ability to replace the outbound Aleksandar Mitrovic.
However, his recent form has arguably been the spearhead of Fulham’s mini-resurgence, with journalist Peter Rutzler having seen his ‘goal machine’ suggestion come true again. Before his dismissal, the striker had scored three in his last two.
The Cottagers are not the only ones missing key men though, with Dyche having to deal with his fair share of absentees.
After all, Vitaliy Mykolenko remains unlikely to return, having missed Saturday’s win over Burnley. His unavailability actually forced them to rethink the entire system, given Ashley Young’s injury left them little cover at left-back.
Seamus Coleman is another expected to be out, whilst the half-time substitution of Abdoulaye Doucoure against Burnley had fans worried.
Dyche has since revealed that the Mali international is expected to be ‘touch-and-go’, but to risk him tonight seems foolish given the fixture list is only set to pile up further in the coming weeks.
Other absentees include the likes of Andre Gomes and Dele Alli, both of whom have made great strides towards a potential first-team return in the coming weeks.
Whilst Jimenez’s injury marks a huge blow for Marco Silva, given how it significantly blunts his attack, it is instead Dyche’s defence that has been ravaged by this mid-season flurry of fixtures.
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