Everton v Norwich

By Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator

TEAM NEWS

Everton could be boosted by the return of Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe after a recent foot problem.

However, fellow midfielders Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman remain doubtful with hamstring injuries.

Norwich are still without on-loan Ritchie de Laet, but fellow defenders Daniel Ayala and Elliott Ward may feature.

Former Everton striker James Vaughan is out until at least the New Year with a knee injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

Norwich boast two commodities that Everton would dearly love to have in their dressing room – regular scorers.

While the goal-shy Toffees haven’t scored in the Premier League in 192 minutes, Steve Morison has five in six games for Norwich and Grant Holt has hit five in seven. The new boys look well-balanced going forward and capable of creating the sort of chances from fluent attacking play that Evertonians can only dream about at the moment.

Only the top five clubs have scored more than Paul Lambert’s team. Only West Brom and Wigan have scored fewer than Everton.

Poor Tim Cahill, who’s grabbed so many vital goals over the years, hasn’t got off the mark yet. Louis Saha has been injury-hit and inconsistency again. Royston Drenthe has looked good in patches. Jack Rodwell has been out of the team of late. It’s been a problematic time for David Moyes and his cash-strapped club.

The Canaries, on the other hand, have fluttered into the Premier League on a breath of fresh air. Bright and breezy, they are not afraid of anyone and fought back for a deserved point on their previous visit to Merseyside; 1-1 at Anfield in October. Keeper John Ruddy was magnificent that day and he’ll have a big point to prove to Everton, who played him just once in his five years at the club even though he’d done well on loan spells to nine different clubs.

If Norwich maintain their fine home form they should stay up comfortably. On the road, though, they have conceded far too many of late. Everton will take cheer from that. They can’t afford a third defeat on the spin, that’s for sure, but with confidence brittle, they may have to settle for a draw.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Everton are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Norwich, winning the last three.
• Norwich’s most recent win at Goodison Park was an emphatic 5-1 triumph in September 1993. Efan Ekoku hit four for City that day in the Canaries’ record away Premier League win.

Everton

• Everton have lost seven of their last 10 league games and are in danger of losing three straight league matches for a second time this season.
• Only West Brom and Wigan (both 14) have scored fewer than David Moyes’ side (15) but only the two Manchester clubs and Liverpool have conceded less than the Toffees’ 18.
• Everton have exactly the same number of points from this stage of last season: 16 points from 14 games. However, they have lost double the amount of games: eight, compared to last term’s four.

Norwich

• The Canaries, who have won two of their last three matches, are seeking back-to-back wins for only a second time this season.
• Only the top five have scored more than Paul Lambert’s side (24) but only the bottom three have conceded more than the 28 Norwich have let in.
• Grant Holt’s six league goals have been scored at an average of a goal every 117 minutes.
• Norwich are seven points better off than their tally of 12 points from 15 games during the 2004/05 season, when they were last in the Premier League.