EVERTON VS CARDIFF CITY: PREVIEW
- Bobby Vincent
- Nov 23, 2018
- 2 min read
Everton will be looking to continue their good start to the season, as they host a Cardiff side who will be full of confidence following a win last time out.
Cardiff scored very late on to dramatically beat relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion to lift the Bluebirds level with 17th and 16th.
Everton were involved in a goalless stalemate with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge; with some excellent defending on show from the Toffees.
TEAM NEWS -
Gyfli Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes are both set to be available for Everton, despite both missing international games through injuries.
Kurt Zouma returns to the Toffees' side after missing the game against Chelsea through ineligibility.
Cardiff skipper Sean Morrison was taken off injured against Brighton with a broken nose, but has been passed fit for the Bluebirds' trip to Merseyside.
Harry Arter is set to return to the squad following a ban and Jazz Richards could too be available after a hamstring injury.
Kenneth Zohore is sidelined with a calf injury, though.
THE MANAGERS -
Everton manager Marco Silva has insisted he is "happy" with his team's form, but has also admitted they can improve "many things".
"We are happy with our momentum but there are many things we need to improve," Silva said.
"The fans are supporting us from the first minute until the end because they understand what we are doing.
"The results are important to grow our confidence as a team and fans as well. The atmosphere in our stadium is different now because we are working together."
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has praised his opponent's "top players" ahead of Saturday's clash.
"I think that over the next few weeks we have an opportunity," the Cardiff boss said. "You do hope to have played Everton earlier in the season, really, now they're at full stretch. It'll be good to test our strengths against a team like that.
"I'm looking forward to the match. They've got some top players in their squad. We have to be resolute and defend well.
"We're going to have a lot of action around our box, so we'll need to defend well. We'll also need to go forward with confidence and the lads that are on form will hopefully keep the momentum going."
MATCH STATS -
- 92 years have passed since Cardiff's last away win at Everton; coming in December 1926 (0-1).
- Everton have only one defeat from their last nine Premier League games at home (W5, D3).
- The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 13 games against newly-promoted sides, winning 11 of the games.
- If Cardiff manage to win at Goodison Park, it will be their second consecutive top-flight victory for the first time since April 1962.
- Cardiff and Arsenal are the only two teams who have not led a game at half-time yet this season.
BETTING ODDS -
Everton: 4/9
Draw: 4/1
Cardiff City: 13/2
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