Everton and West Ham United are set to face each other at Goodison Park this Saturday, 15 March 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 PM GMT. Both teams are currently level on 33 points in the Premier League standings, making this encounter crucial for their aspirations to climb the table.
Team News
Everton
Under the guidance of manager David Moyes, Everton have been on an impressive eight-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, comprising four wins and four draws. However, they face several injury concerns ahead of this fixture:
Iliman Ndiaye (knee injury)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring injury)
Orel Mangala (knee injury, expected return: 1 June)
Armando Broja (ankle injury, expected return: 2 April)
Dwight McNeil (knee injury, expected return: 2 April)
Despite these setbacks, Moyes will likely maintain a similar lineup to the one that secured a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. Seamus Coleman has recovered from a calf injury and was an unused substitute in the previous match, but Jake O’Brien is expected to continue at right-back.
West Ham United
Managed by Graham Potter, West Ham United have experienced mixed results recently, with two wins followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United. The Hammers have their own injury list to contend with:
Michail Antonio (leg injury)
Crysencio Summerville (hamstring injury, expected return: 1 April)
Niclas Füllkrug (hamstring injury, expected return: 1 April)
Vladimir Coufal (hamstring injury, doubtful)
Lucas Paquetá made a return from an ankle injury as a substitute in the last match and is pushing for a start. Potter may opt for a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Paquetá providing creativity in midfield alongside Tomáš Souček and Edson Álvarez.
Predicted Starting XI
Everton (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
Defenders: Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, James Garner; Jesper Lindstrøm, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Jack Harrison
West Ham United (3-4-2-1):
Goalkeeper: Alphonse Areola
Defenders: Jean-Clair Todibo, Maximilian Kilman, Aaron Cresswell
Midfielders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tomáš Souček, Edson Álvarez, Oliver Scarles; Lucas Paquetá, Mohammed Kudus
Match Stats and Preview
Recent Form:
Everton: Unbeaten in their last eight Premier League matches, with four wins and four draws.
West Ham United: Two wins followed by a defeat in their last three league outings.
Head-to-Head:
In their last five Premier League encounters, both teams have secured two wins each, with one match ending in a draw.
Key Players:
Everton: Jack Harrison has been pivotal, ending a 36-game Premier League goal drought by scoring against Wolves.
West Ham United: Jarrod Bowen remains a significant threat, having scored seven league goals this season.
Prediction
Given Everton’s solid home form and West Ham’s inconsistency on the road, the Toffees are slight favourites to edge this contest. However, considering both teams’ recent performances and injury concerns, a closely fought draw seems plausible.
In Summary
This fixture promises to be an intriguing battle between two sides aiming to finish the season strongly. With both teams level on points, the outcome could significantly influence their final standings in the Premier League table. Fans can expect a competitive match at Goodison Park this Saturday.
