Next Up: Everton vs Fulham

Everton are back at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend and are looking to get back to winning ways after surrendering their unbeaten home record at the new stadium to Spurs. 

And David Moyes will have had to regroup and assess how to proceed after a strange match at Sunderland that Everton dominated in the first 25 minutes and should have been set to defend a 2-0 lead but for a horrendous missed sitter. 

There's been a lot of talk over recent weeks about the changes David Moyes could and perhaps should make to his team selections and use of substitutes to better utilize the depth of his squad. But he has been stubbornly consistent in his approach to such suggestions. 

So we're left to contemplate the visit of our old friend Marco Silva on Saturday as he brings his Fulham side who are sat just below Everton in 15th place in the Premier League table, with 10 games played. 

Beyond the immediate match-up, the history between these two clubs is rich with players who have worn both the royal blue of Everton and the white of the Cottagers:

• Antonee Robinson: The dynamic American left-back came through the Everton Academy, joining the club at the age of 11. Although he didn't make a senior competitive appearance for the Toffees, he gained valuable experience through loan spells at Championship clubs like Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. He joined Fulham in 2020 and has since established himself as a vital first-team player for the Cottagers, known for his pace, work rate, and attacking contribution.

• Alex Iwobi: The most recent high-profile departure from Everton to Fulham, Alex Iwobi's move has provided a potent attacking force for Marco Silva's side. After spending four seasons with the Blues, Iwobi completed a transfer to West London and has quickly become a key figure for Fulham in their creative attacking play. His presence in the opposition midfield adds an extra layer of intrigue to this fixture, as he faces his former club for the first time since his permanent move.

• Louis Saha: A fan favourite at both clubs, the French striker excelled with the Whites before his move to Manchester United and subsequent arrival at Everton. Saha was prolific for Fulham early in his career and later enjoyed four seasons at Everton, where he netted 27 Premier League goals, becoming a popular figure with his mix of power and technical finesse.

• Andrew Johnson & Simon Davies: Both players were key components of Everton sides in the mid-2000s under David Moyes before moving on to enjoy successful periods at Fulham. Johnson, known for his relentless running and goalscoring threat, and Welsh midfielder Davies, appreciated for his creative flair and work-rate, both contributed significantly to their respective eras at the two clubs.

• Other Notable Names: The list also includes central figures such as Dutch defender John Heitinga, American international Brian McBride, and Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, who had a loan spell at Fulham after leaving Everton.

Fulham's Achilles heel this season has been their appalling away form. The Cottagers have one of the worst away records in the Premier League, securing only a single point from five away trips so far.

They come into the match having lost their last three consecutive away fixtures, shipping goals in defeats to Newcastle Utd, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa. This vulnerability on the road is something Everton should seek to exploit. 

Will David Moyes adopt a new approach in an effort to secure a win? That would only happen if he accepted that some of the baffling choices he has been making have not yielded the required results. But he seems a long way off such an admission at the moment...

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