Premier League preview: Everton v West Brom

Everton and West Brom will be looking to arrest poor recent form when they clash at Goodison Park on Saturday in the English Premier League.

Everton, who sit in 14th place on the league table with 16 points, have won just one of their last five matches. Newly promoted West Brom, in 16th place and also on 16 points, have lost four and drawn one of their last five.

David Moyes’ Everton side were lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Monday, and had to rely on an 83rd-minute strike from Mikel Arteta to thank for escaping with a point.

West Brom were humiliated 3-0 at The Hawthorns by Stoke on Saturday, and boss Roberto Di Matteo will be ruing their defensive failings after a promising start to the campaign that saw them beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium and draw 2-2 with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The injury list at the Hawthorns will also be troubling Di Matteo, with winger James Morrison suffering a back injury, right-back Steven Reid cut down with an Achilles problem and midfielder Chris Brunt battling a groin strain.

Di Matteo is hopeful all three will be fit for the trip to Merseyside as he is already without defender Jonas Olsson with an Achilles issue, while striker Ishmael Miller will also miss the game with an abdominal complaint.

The news on the injury front is much better over at Goodison, with Moyes having almost a full complement of players to choose from.

Only long-term casualties Victor Anichebe and Leon Osman are still unavailable for first team selection, with the latter still hampered by an ankle injury.

Anichebe has returned to action in Everton’s reserves team and played 90 minutes in their clash with Liverpool on Tuesday as he continues his comeback from a serious knee injury sustained in preseason.