Everton are looking to get back on track this weekend – and West Ham United are the opponents at London Stadium.
Everton fell to a devastating defeat in the Merseyside Derby on Sunday, losing right at the death to Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk’s late header was a real sickener for the Toffees, and a draw would probably have been a fair result.
But Everton remain in a decent position to get European football. Although David Moyes can’t afford too many more slip-ups.
He returns to his former club West Ham on Saturday, hopeful of picking up three big points.
Everton, of course, have been great on the road – and a win here would see Moyes join a rather exclusive club.
The exclusive club David Moyes will join by beating West Ham
David Moyes managing Everton.
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
This is simply a huge game for Everton.
The defeat to Liverpool was extremely frustrating, but not totally disastrous.
But dropping points here would really be far from ideal.
MORE EVERTON STORIES
Moyes will be extra determined to get a win as he takes on his former club – and victory would see him achieve something quite rare.
Previously, only three Premier League managers have ever recorded wins against two former clubs in a single season, as per BBC Sport.
Harry Redknapp managed it in 2009/10 when he got wins over Portsmouth and West Ham.
Roy Hodgson actually did it twice, first in 2011/12 by beating Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers and then in 2020/21 vs Fulham and West Bromwich Albion.
And Nuno Espirito Santo – who’ll be Moyes’ opposite number this weekend of course – did it last season when he beat Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur.
This will be a tricky game for Everton.
West Ham may have missed an opportunity on Monday night against Crystal Palace, but they’ve undoubtedly looked better in recent weeks and look up for the survival fight.
They want to stay up at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur, which would be an absolutely remarkable outcome should it happen.
And their desire to make that happen makes them a dangerous side right now.
Everton, who’ll be without the injured Jarrad Branthwaite, must make sure they prepare well and come away from London Stadium with three big points.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox