Premier League: Everton v Stoke City match preview

A look ahead to the weekend’s fixture at Goodison Park

Leighton Baines has been ruled out for up to six weeks after suffering a broken foot (GETTY IMAGES)

Seventh place Everton will hope to extend their five match unbeaten run when they host 14th place Stoke City on Saturday.

The Toffees have only lost once in the Premier League this season and have only conceded six goals at home. They come off the back of an eventful Merseyside derby draw with Liverpool, where in-form striker Romelu Lukaku popped up with two more goals for the season. Stoke beat bottom club Sunderland last Saturday and have only lost one game in their last five in the Premier League. A win could take Everton into the Champions League places and would take them level on points with their rivals, Liverpool. Stoke are only three points above the relegation zone but a win could take them into the top half of the table.

Everton are without Arouna Kone, Leighton Baines and Darron Gibson so there could be a start for Johnny Heitinga or Bryan Oviedo. Kevin Mirallas has been causing teams problems and is working well with his compatriot Lukaku. Stoke City’s Kenwyne Jones, Robert Huth and Marc Wilson are out injured but they have, Peter Crouch and John Walters primed to start. The highly-acclaimed Asmir Begovic will continue in goal for Stoke, with rumours circling that a number of clubs will make a bid for him in January.

KICK-OFF: 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS

Everton 1 (Mirallas) Stoke City 0, Premier League, March 2013

Stoke City 1 (Jones), Everton 1 (Shawcross OG), Premier League, December 2012

Stoke City 1 (Jerome), Everton 1 (Crouch OG), Premier League, May 2012

STATS

There has not been more than 2 goals in this game since March 2009 when Everton won 3-1 at Goodison Park.

Everton and West Brom have drawn the most games in the Premier League this season (6 from 12 games).

In the Premier League this season, Stoke City (14) have conceded one less goal than Liverpool (13) and Manchester United (15).

ODDS

Everton: 1.6

Draw: 3.75

Stoke City: 6.0