Everton confirmed XI v Fulham: Nathan Patterson benched in unchanged team
Everton will arrive at Craven Cottage knowing that a victory against surprise package Fulham would catapult them into the top half.
The Toffees come into this game off the back of a brilliant 3-0 win at home to Crystal Palace thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil.
Marco Silva’s side also scored three times on their last outing in the Premier League as they rolled over Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United 3-2 at Elland Road.
The Cottagers have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season and currently sit in seventh place after 12 matches and a win against Everton could see them jump as high as fourth, albeit in need of a big goal difference swing.
For this trip to the capital, Toffees manager Frank Lampard has decided to make no changes to the side that brushed the Eagles aside with Nathan Patterson returning from injury to sit on the bench.
Take a point
It might seem like a pessimistic angle to take but with Silva’s Fulham in red-hot form and the Toffees very indifferent on the road, coming back to Merseyside with a point in their pockets would be a great result.
Of course, Lampard has to set the team up to try and win first and foremost because they are there for the taking if they can start on the front foot but going too gung-ho too soon will only backfire.
Goodison Park is returning to the fortress-like state it once was prior to Rafael Benitez’s reign so there is not the desperate need to win on their travels anymore.
It is probably more important to gain one point than lose them all going for the win at Craven Cottage to ensure the gap to the relegation zone continues to increase.
If three points are available, take them, but Lampard and Everton have to come back to the North West with something to show for their efforts.