Joe Cole predicts result of Everton Carabao Cup showdown v Fulham
Joe Cole has predicted that Everton will be able to extend their winning run to five matches in all competitions when they face Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday 19 December.
Sean Dyche's side head into their quarter-final clash off the back of an impressive 2-0 win over Burnley last time out in the Premier League, but Cole has predicted they will manage a 1-1 draw in regular time, but progress to the semi-final via penalties.
Fulham come into Tuesday's clash looking to return to winning ways having lost 3-0 to West Ham United last time out, but Cole has suggested that Toffees stopper Jordan Pickford will prove the difference between the two sides, especially in the penalty shootout.
Writing in his EFL predictions, he said: "This is an interesting game with another two Premier League teams matched together.
"I’m going to go with Everton to win on penalties and Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to be crucial in that penalty shootout for the home team."
Great shot at silverware
It has been a long time since Everton last lifted some silverware or even made the trip to Wembley, but the Toffees have an excellent chance of changing that record this season and that starts with Tuesday's quarter-final clash with Fulham.
When these two sides met earlier this season, Marco Silva's side managed to take all three points against the run of play at Goodison Park, but since then the Toffees have found their feet and now are one of the form teams in the Premier League.
Dyche has managed to make Everton an incredibly lethal force going forward and added an element of solidity in defence that has made the Toffees incredibly hard to beat. Fulham have shown they can find the net, scoring 10 in their last three games, but Everton will be confident that they can stop that attacking force.
Supporters at Goodison Park will be hoping that Cole's prediction that it will go all the way to a penalty shootout is wrong and instead, Dyche's side will get it done in the 90 minutes. However, if it means Everton book their place in the semi-final, nobody will be too bothered how they manage it.