Alious
Everton faces a crucial Premier League matchup against Fulham at Goodison Park, with the team looking to extend their unbeaten streak to five games and secure consecutive victories. However, they’ll need to overcome an interesting historical pattern in this fixture.
While Goodison Park was once a fortress against Fulham, with the Blues enjoying a remarkable 22-game winning streak against the Cottagers in league matches, the tide has dramatically turned. Fulham broke their losing streak in February 2021 with a 2-0 victory and haven’t looked back since, winning their last four matches at Everton’s home ground, including a recent penalty shootout victory that particularly stung midfielder Amadou Onana.
Despite this concerning trend, Sean Dyche’s squad enters the match with renewed confidence following four undefeated games, highlighted by an impressive 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town. The key tactical decision facing Dyche revolves around his defensive lineup, particularly regarding Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Keane.
Two of the publication’s writers offer contrasting perspectives on this selection dilemma:
Joe Thomas advocates for Branthwaite’s return to the starting eleven, assuming his match fitness is adequate. While acknowledging Michael Keane’s recent impressive performances and valuable contribution to the team, Thomas believes Branthwaite’s exceptional talent warrants his inclusion. He also supports maintaining Ashley Young in the lineup, citing consistency benefits and injury concerns with other defensive options.
Chris Beesley presents a different view, despite his high regard for Branthwaite, whom he dubs ‘The Carlisle Kaiser’ and considers a potential future England centurion. He notes the team’s recent defensive success without Branthwaite, including two clean sheets, and particularly highlights Keane’s outstanding performance against Ipswich Town, where he contributed both defensively and offensively with a spectacular goal. Beesley references Dyche’s comments about having “four very good centre-backs, all fighting for the shirt” and ultimately recommends maintaining the successful lineup from the Ipswich victory.
Alious
