Match Preview: Everton vs Middlesbrough
Everton are welcoming Middlesbrough to Goodison Park for the first time in the Premier League since 2008 and it’s has all the makings of a hard fought game.
The hosts are in fine form and are looking to win their fourth Premier League game on the spin but Boro won’t make it easy. Aitor Karanka’s side are looking to stave off relegation this season and the Spaniard isn’t altering his style.
Middlesbrough were able to secure promotion to the Premier League through good attacking football but it was built on a solid defensive base.
The sides met in last season’s Capital One Cup where Everton ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu but much has changed. Roberto Martinez was in charge then but he’s been replaced by Ronald Koeman.
Koeman, like Karanka, knows the importance of building a team on a solid defensive basis. Everton conceded 55 goals last season and have already shown signs of improvement. The signings of Ashley Williams and Idrissa Gana Gueye have been hugely instrumental to that improvement but we’ll cover them in further detail later.
Both Gueye and Williams will have plenty of questions asked of them as Boro have plenty of quality attacking players to trouble the Blues on Saturday evening.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Duncan Watmore of Sunderland holds off Idrissa Gueye of Everton during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light on September 12, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Boro’s Danger Men
Middlesbrough have started the season well and find themselves 9th in the Premier League with five points. As mentioned, they’re solid in defence and have players to cause problems in attack. We’ll take a look at three of those that could cause Everton plenty of problems this weekend.
Alvaro Negredo: Negredo is a former Everton transfer target and has already troubled the Blues during his time at Manchester City. At Valencia last season, he netted five times in 25 games and he’s already found the net for Middlesbrough this season. Negredo is the type of striker Everton usually find trouble against, powerful and unlikely to give up.
Ronald Koeman’s men will have to keep their eyes on him.
Gaston Ramirez: Ramirez was unable to fully settle at Southampton but looks to have found his niche at Middlesbrough. Everton fans will likely remember him for a stunning strike in 2012 where he beat Joel Robles from 30 yards out.
Ramirez has looked himself during his time at Middlesbrough and will likely be the player Idrissa Gueye is asked to man-mark.
Stewart Downing: Now, Downing isn’t a new name to Everton fans due to his association with Liverpool but he usually plays well against the Blues. Last season, Downing had a hand in nine goals for Boro and is usually good value to score one against Everton.
Downing is likely to be Negredo’s main supplier from out wide and supply plenty of crosses into the box. It’ll be down to Williams and Phil Jagielka to keep Negredo and those crosses at bay.
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Alvaro Negredo of Middlesbrough celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Stoke City at Riverside Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
Likely Line-Ups
The only change for Everton from their 3-0 win over Sunderland looks to be Ross Barkley. The Blues talisman finds his place under fire after being substituted at halftime on Monday night.
Darron Gibson and James McCarthy are still missing through injury while Tom Cleverley is back into contention.
Middlesbrough could be without key man Cristhian Stuani due to a groin problem. Jordan Rhodes is also unlikely to make the trip to Merseyside after suffering a knee injury.
Everton: Stekelenburg, Baines, Williams, Jagielka, Coleman, Barry, Gueye, Bolasie, Mirallas, Deulofeu and Lukaku.
Middlesbrough: Valdes, Friend, Gibson, Ayala, Barragan, Forshaw, De Roon, Downing, Ramirez, Fischer and Negredo.
Matchday tidbits
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