Jordi Amat is one of three players with an outside chance of playing some minutes at Goodison, but in truth this game probably comes just a little too quickly.
Possible Line-Ups
Everton: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Coleman, McCarthy, Barry, Osman, Eto’o, Naismith, Lukaku.
Swansea: Fabianski, Taylor, Williams, Fernandez, Rangel, Shelvey, Sung-Yueng, Montero, Routledge, Carroll, Bony.
Interesting Facts
- Swansea’s Carling Cup win against Everton in 2014 was their first-ever against the Toffees.
- Since 2011, four of the seven matches between the sides have been 0-0 at half time.
- Bob Latchford remains the only player to have played for both clubs, although Roberto Martinez has managed both.
Previous Head to Heads
23/09/14 Swansea 3-0 Everton
22/03/14 Everton 3-2 Swansea
22/12/13 Swansea 1-2 Everton
12/01/13 Everton 0-0 Swansea
22/09/12 Swansea 0-3 Everton
24/03/12 Swansea 0-2 Everton
Key Players
Everton: Phil Jagielka
Phil Jagielka is a throwback to the good old days. An honest pro who never gives less than 100 percent and who can be relied upon to provide genuine footballing excellence in each and every game.
The left-back hardly ever puts a foot wrong and the old maxim of “keep it simple” could’ve been invented for the England international.
No nonsense and no slouch when it comes to his defensive attributes, his ability to provide a supplementary attacking presence, as we saw against Liverpool, needs to be reigned in by the visitors or else he could be decisive.
Swansea City: Jonjo Shelvey
After a decent education on the red half of Merseyside, Jonjo Shelvey is developing into the sort of player that England covet.
Shelvey’s wonderful natural ability on the ball complements an incredibly tenacious and hard working ethic that’s not unlike Steven Gerrard in his pomp.
The Romford-born youngster will have to go some way to emulate his old team mate, but his arrival on the periphery of the senior England squad denotes that his star continues to rise, and Everton will need to keep him under wraps if they want to triumph in this one.
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Prediction
Roberto Martinez and his players should take some heart from their performance last time out against Burnley. Against a well-drilled Clarets side, Everton were classy in possession and, importantly, decisive in front of goal.
Only one other win in the last eight hint at the problems enveloping the Toffees at present and a comprehensive defeat against the same opposition just over a month ago might well play on their minds.
Home advantage hasn’t really been an advantage this season, the victory against Aston Villa a fortnight ago their first league victory at Goodison Park.
Having said that, the Swans have only triumphed against Everton once in the last three years, that being the most recent (cup) game between the two.
An at times scrappy but entertaining 2-2 draw.
