Everton manager David
Moyes is hopeful playmaker Mikel Arteta who missed last weekend's
Merseyside derby defeat after jarring a nerve in his back will be fit
enough to return. Portuguese full-back Nuno Valente is likely to miss
the rest of the season after the thigh injury which kept him out of the
last two matches proved to be more serious than first thought.
Midfielder Andy van der Meyde begins the first match of a three-game
suspension.
Sunderland are without skipper Steve Caldwell(hamstring) and midfielder
Julio Arca(hamstring) for the match that could decide their Premiership
fate. That is, a defeat here coupled with a home win for West Brom
against Liverpool.
Sunderland, as
ever, even with the new man at the helm, have been playing with lots of
commitments as well as passions but lacking the quality to beat their
opponents in the top-flight. Should make it difficult for their hosts.
Everton should bounce back from the 3-1 Merseyside derby defeat at
Anfield, a game where they failed to capitalise over a 10-men Liverpool
side who had key man, Steven Gerrard sent off just after 18 minutes.
They still have an outside chance of sneaking into Europe, i.e
mathematically, currently in 10th place, 7 points off 6th spot Arsenal
but played a game more. To maintain their fine home form of 7 straight
wins would be more realistic than bidding for European place. But never
my cup of tea to back any team on any - 3/4 ball handicap or more.
Probable lineups:
Everton : Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Yobo, Naysmith, Osman,
Cahill, Neville, Arteta, Carsley, Davies, McFadden, Beattie, Ferguson,
Kilbane, Turner.
Sunderland : Davis, Hoyte, Breen, D Collins, McCartney, Lawrence,
Delap, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Brown, Stead, Alnwick, Miller, Le Tallec,
Kyle, Woods, Murphy, Bassila, Nosworthy.
Referee: M.Halsey
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