Match Preview - Everton v Coventry City

It's off to Merseyside for our first visit to Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Quite why they've named it after Jimmy Hill and the bloke off Bargain Hunt, I'm not sure, but they must have their reasons.

City arrive in 16th place with nine points, having won three of our last five Premier League matches. Everton are seventh with 13 points and have won their last two games.

And there's the small matter of Frank Lampard returning to his former club. Plus which current City player made his debut at 16 for Everton in the Europa League?!?

Read on!

Presser

Head to Head

I've made a page dedicated to past meetings with some video highlights HERE.

Here's this week's Head to Head Explorer for Everton. It lists all the past games, home and away, scores, scorers, totals and links to highlights where we can find them.

https://headtohead.letsallsingtogether.com/everton

City Team News

I honestly think SFL will go unchanged tonight. I know that didn't work out well when he did that against Fulham, but unless he wants Grimes to sit and City to soak up the pressure, I can't see another change. Surely that would be a mistake, though. We need to be proactive, busy and up and at 'em.

The other option may be Cherif for Awoniyi, but again, I can't see it. Cherif will make a substitute appearance.

Bobby Thomas and Frank the Tank are nearing comebacks and could possibly make the bench but won't start.

Amenda the Defender (calf), HWWW (thigh), Josh Eccles (ankle) and Luke Woolfenden (knee) are all still out of contention.

What do you think? Head to the LAST Line Up Builder and make your own, you can post straight to the match comments or social media.

Everton Team News

The major talking point in the Toffees' line-up is the missing Jack Grealish, who is still being punished for disciplinary reasons. Tyrique George has been starting instead of him in recent games.

Everton may also go unchanged after their win against Newcastle, although Jarrad Branthwaite may need a late fitness test after being subbed in that game. Moyes said that was due to cramp, but we will see.

Then, of course, we come up against ex-Leicester player Dewsbury-Hall, who was somewhat bitter post-match after losing to City in January 2024:

"When we're winning and doing so well in the league, when teams beat us it's genuinely like they have won promotion themselves, so look, let them have their day. It's part of the game isn't it. It's football."

To be fair to him, his career has gone upwards since leaving Leicester, and Leicester have gone the other way, so maybe we'll let him off!

Player Links

First of all, SFL returns to Everton, where he was manager for nearly a year between 31 January 2022 and 23 January 2023. He joined with Everton in 16th, four points off relegation, and guided them to safety with a game to spare. One win in 11 games the following season, and SFL was sacked a few days after the dreaded vote of confidence from the chairman, with Everton in 19th.

Ellis Simms obviously came from Everton in July 2023 after coming through their U18s. He featured 12 times for their first team, scoring once. Since then, Simms has played 150 times for City, scoring 41 goals.

A lesser-known fact is that Jake Bidwell played a Europa League game for Everton against BATE Borisov on 17 December 2009. He was just 16 years and 271 days old!

Dom Hyam, Danny Fox and Liam Walsh were all youth team players at Everton.

Ernie Hunt made the move from Everton to City in 1967. Other well-known players to have played for both clubs include David Burrows, Peter Billing, Mick Ferguson, Stephen Hughes, Kenny Sansom, Dave Clements, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Don Hutchison, Lee Carsley, Brian Borrows and Bob Latchford.

And Yakubu......

LAST Prediction

I can see City getting something here. I know it means nothing as it was so long ago, but we have actually only lost three times out of 18 in the PL to Everton. I'm going for a 1-1 draw with Awoniyi netting for City.

LAST Prediction: 1-1

Huwligan Prediction: 1-1

ChatGPT Prediction: 1-1, Coventry scorer – Jack Rudoni. Confidence: 6/10. "I'd happily take a point, although I wouldn't rule out City nicking all three! #PUSB"

"Huwligan" is Huw, the 7½-year-old son of Greg "Sweet of the Match" from LAST 1.0.

Enjoy the game. #PUSB