Sam Allardyce’s Everton welcome struggling Swansea to Goodison Park on Monday night as the new boss looks to extend his unbeaten start.
The Blues’ midweek victory over Newcastle at St. James’ Park was what Evertonians had been crying out for.
It wasn’t just a first Premier League away win in 11 months, but the first occasion in an age Everton have ‘won ugly’. Allardyce’s side rode their luck, nicked a goal and wound up Geordies. Wonderful.
The visitors sit rock bottom of the division with just 12 points from their 17 games – it is looking grim for the south Wales outfit.
Monday evening will see the man who single handily kept Swansea away from the drop last season come up against his old side, that is of course £45 million-man Gylfi Sigurdsson, the Iceland international is starting to find his feet for the Blues, having been involved in four goals in his last six runouts and he’ll be keen to show the Swans just what they are missing.
Paul Clement’s troops were demolished 4-0 at home as Manchester City chalked up their 15th league win on the bounce on Wednesday night.
But it’s their 1-0 win over West Brom last weekend which will give Swansea hope with Clement looking to get results over teams closer to them in the table.
One to watch
Wilfried Bony will have regretted ever leaving Swansea, but after the Ivorian finally put nightmare spells with Man City and Stoke behind him he made the move back to Wales in the summer.
After a slow start he’s managed two goals in his previous three games.
Everyone is aware of the strength Bony possesses, his ability to bully defenders made his first spell at the club so successful, netting 35 goals in 70 appearances so Everton will need to keep a close tab on the striker on Monday.
Team news
Massive news coming out of Everton is the possible return of Yannick Bolasie after over a year on the sidelines.
James McCarthy played for the under 23s on Friday but this game will come too soon for the Ireland international, Leighton Baines is still out.
Swansea are at full strength apart from Kyle Bartley.
Man in the middle –
Jon Moss will referee the game.
Depending on results elsewhere, a win for Swansea could ease them out of the relegation zone – showing just how tight the lower end of the league is.
Three points for Everton could see a rise to ninth in the table.
Up the Toffees.
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