Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Everton head to MKM Stadium today to take on Hull City and are looking to make it back-to-back wins against newly promoted sides in the Premier League.
Before the extended international break, Everton beat Ipswich Town 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium, which put the club seventh in the Premier League table. The club have slipped a place now after Chelsea’s thumping win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
But today’s game represents a good chance to take three points, as well as Hull have started.
It won’t be easy, because it’s likely that Everton will need to play in a slightly different way due to how Hull operate.
And Jack Grealish may well be the Toffees’ most important player today.
Why Jack Grealish could be crucial today vs Hull
Hull have been a real surprise package so far this season. Most people anticipated that they would struggle, but they’ve taken eight points from their first five games and are clearly a competitive outfit.
And like Everton, they have been solid defensively, conceding just four goals so far.
Today’s game will be so interesting from a tactical perspective, because it brings together two sides that tend not to have as much of the ball as their opponents.
Everton have averaged 43.6% possession so far in the Premier League, ranking them 17th (via BBC Sport). But Hull have had just 32.8%, placing them dead last.
So the suggestion is that Everton will be the ones dictating the game, which is arguably not where Everton are strongest. Certainly, it’s not where the Toffees are most familiar.
The slight change in style should see Jack Grealish in particular become very important.
The winger will surely start today, having had more opportunity to work on his fitness during the international break. He did start against Ipswich Town, so he’s a good bet to start from the left side today.
Hull sit deep and try to counter teams, so Everton are going to have a lot of the ball in the Hull third, with most Tigers players sat on the edge of their own box.
Having spent years playing for Manchester City, Grealish is used to teams setting up in this way. He is used to the low block tactic, and is the player Everton need to be getting on the ball as much as possible today.
After the first five rounds of fixtures, Grealish was statistically the most creative player in the Premier League based on chances created per 90, so he is potentially going to be vital today in helping to break Hull down.
There may not be much space in behind, so Everton may need to be intricate and arguably Grealish is the best in these kinds of situations.