Build up to the match
It has not been a good start to the season for Everton. They have spent more than £100-million on new players, including Sunderland’s wonderkid goalkeeper Jonathan Pickford. And yet, despite all that outlay, Everton have only won four out of their 16 competitive matches so far. They sit at the bottom end of the table in England’s top league, and their form is showing no signs of improving. Now, they are set to face a formidable team in Lyon. Can the Toffees pull off a win against the French?
Match information
Kickoff: Thursday, 19th October 2017, 08:05PM England time
Venue: Goodison Park, Merseyside, England
Team News
Everton have been plagued with injuries this early in the season, with sturdy midfielders Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy unavailable for selection. Home-grown playmaker Ross Barkley is also out with injury. Midfield magician Gylfi Sigurdsson, however, is ready and able to help Everton’s cause.
Olympique Lyonnais doesn’t have as much of a headache in terms of injuries, with only crafty midfielder Clement Grenier out with a knock. The rest of the squad is ready and able. Expect Lyon to play talismanic winger Memphis Depay in an effort to put forward an effective attacking threat against the Toffees.
Form
Everton
D-L-D-W-W (across all competitions)
Everton have not had the stellar start they expected since the season began. It has been a rough ride for manager Ronald Koeman, who couldn’t find a way to make his team gel together in recent weeks. The squad will have to pull double the effort if they want to land a win against Lyon on Thursday.
Olympique Lyonnais
W-D-D-D-L (across all competitions)
French side Lyon also have not had a good run of form in recent weeks. While their defence has been good, they couldn’t seem to find their clinical touch and are finding it difficult to score goals, especially after the departure of striker Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal during the summer. Away from home, Lyon certainly face a tough match ahead.
Match Prediction
Everton’s presence at home will certainly boost their confidence coming into this game. Lyon are also undergoing a rough patch, and with both sides having a bad spell, the win will come to the team who want it the most.
Everton 1-0 Olympique Lyonnais