Premier League: Fulham v Everton match preview

A look ahead to Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage

Ross Barkley silenced the Newcastle home fans after 22 minutes (Getty Images)

Rock bottom Fulham entertain a Champions League chasing Everton side this Sunday lunchtime and know full well that they must walk away with three points if they are to stand any chance of Premier League survival. Having only beaten the Toffees once in five Premier League years, Fulham boss Felix Magath will be hoping victory on Sunday can be the catalyst to their survival bid.

Fulham will have to rely heavily on home form if they are to beat the drop and will be hoping to make it back to back home wins at Craven Cottage for the first time this season after defeating Newcastle earlier this month. That win against the Tyneside club is however only their second in 2014 and the Cottagers will enter this fixture off the back of a 5-0 mauling against Manchester City last Saturday.

Everton’s midweek victory at St James’ Park ended a run of four straight away defeats and was their first win on the road since January. Roberto Martinez’s side will see this as a perfect opportunity to edge closer to a coveted Champions League spot as rivals Arsenal entertain Manchester City on Saturday. In what has been a remarkable first season at Goodison Park for the Spaniard, Martinez will be looking to lead Everton to five straight league victories, something they haven’t achieved for almost 12 years.

Fulham could hand a second debut to Mali international midfielder Mahamadou Diarra after he re-joined the club on a short term deal on Wednesday. They will however be without Venezuelan defender Fernando Amorebieta who is suspended after his red card at the Etihad last weekend.

Club captain Phil Jagielka was not risked against Newcastle in midweek despite rumours he was set to return from injury. It is most likely he was saved by Martinez for this weekend’s fixture and if he does return it will be a welcome boost for the Toffees.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 1.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Everton 4 (Osman, Coleman, Barry, Mirallas) Fulham 1 (Berbatov), Premier League, December 2013

Fulham 2 (Berbatov, Bent) Everton 1 (Naismith), Capital One Cup, September 2013

Everton 1 (Pienaar) Fulham 0, Premier League, April 2013

STATS:

Everton are unbeaten in their last 8 league games against the Cottagers

Fulham have won eight of the previous 12 meetings between the two at Craven Cottage

Before the Newcastle win in midweek, Everton had lost four away games in a row, the first time this has happened in nine years.

ODDS:

Fulham to win: 2.2

Everton to win: 3.9

Draw: 3.35

TV: Live on Sky Sports One and Sky Sports One HD at 1.30pm, highlights on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.25m.