Both these sides meet at Goodison Park with a sturdy resilience to keep their unbeaten streaks alive. For Everton, Roberto Martinez will be hoping to keep his team’s four game unbeaten run going whilst West Ham will aim to make it six in a row without loss. At the moment, West Ham might be considered favourites, or at least closer to being so than in previous seasons, with their excellent start to the new season seeing them climb into a deserved fourth position with 18 points gained from 11 matches. Everton meanwhile have had a poor start by their standards but a win this weekend will see them close to within one point of the Hammers with the league table still tight as we near the end of November. A win here for either side would go a long way to boosting their seasons after the final international break of 2014.
 Team News
 Everton
 Everton manager Roberto Martinez has a massive eleven man injury list currently harming his team selections – although a number of these niggles could potentially clear up by kick-off. Players like Bryan Oviedo (leg), Arouna Kone (knee), Kevin Mirallas (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (calf) and James McCarthy (hamstring) will all face late fitness tests to assess their availability.
 However, players like Steven Peinaar (knee), Antolin Alcaraz (shoulder), Gareth Barry (ankle), John Stones (ankle) have no time scale currently placed on their return.
Darren Gibson and Leighton Baines should both miss this game with knee and hamstring injuries respectively but their returns should be seen by the end of the month.
 West Ham
Sam Allardyce’s job is much simpler at the moment because the West Ham manager has just the two injuries to contend with – and both could be available for the weekend anyway.
Defender Winston Reid is a slight doubt with a thigh problem whilst Guy Demel is also struggling with the same type of knock.
Interesting Facts
 – Everton have scored eight set piece goals already this term- two corners, four crossed free kicks and two pens.
– Everton are unbeaten in 12 league games vs West Ham (W8, D4).
– West Ham have taken the lead in four of the last six games between these two sides but haven’t won any of those contests (2D, 2L).
– this is West Ham’s joint best start to a Premier League season – the Hammers have had 18 points after 11 games in these seasons: 05/06, 12/13 & 14/15.
– Stewart Downing has registered four assists already this season and you can back him to bank another this weekend with Tailor Bet – the winger is 4.57/1 to set up a goal and with the amount of chances he’s been creating you’d be mad to miss this!
Key Men
Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley has so far suffered an injury ravaged season but his return at the sharp end of Everton;s attack is now a really welcome gift for Everton’s supporters. The local Academy graduate has played just four times this season but the prospect of their returning star man at full fitness is enough to make every Blue in Merseyside smug with joy – especially with fresh news of another Daniel Sturridge injury, with Liverpool struggling to score and already residing below Everton.
During his brief pitch time, Barkley has amassed a smart passing accuracy of 86% whilst creating eight chances for his teammates. From these eight created chances there has been just the one assist but Barkley will be hopeful of adding more of these to his game as the season progresses. Barkley has also registered an impressive 11/18 successful take-ons which is decent for a midfielder player who isn’t always known for his pacey dribbling.
Diafra Sakho
Attacker Diafra Sakho has certainly been one of the signings of the summer transfer window. Question marks were raised when West Ham shelled out £3.5m for the former Metz striker’s services but the money has been well and truly well spent – and with the Senegalese striker being just 24 years old, the resale value could be huge.
So far this season, Sahko has scored six goals from eight appearances and has also contributed one assist from six created chances to his side’s impressive start. Diafra Sakho has also impressed with the ball in the air as the powerful striker has scored four headed goals already this term. And yet, despite this clear talent, Sakho has won just 38.81% of his headed duels.
Prediction
Given West Ham’s recent form and Everton’s ability to concede goals this season, I’m going to have a punt on a brave 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. With West Ham’s attack in this kind of form and confidence you’d back them to score against most teams in England so with Everton having already condeded 18 goals there is a high chance that a goals fest is coming. Saying that, what do I know? If I was you, I’d back 0-0.
