Everton vs Norwich City: Preview & Prediction

Managerless Everton take on relegated Norwich in a clash between two teams who expected much more from their Premier League campaigns and will be glad to see the back of them.

The Toffees sacked Roberto Martinez this week following the woeful 3-0 defeat at Sunderland – a loss that continued their poor recent form which has seen win just once in their last 10 games – meaning Joe Royle and David Unsworth will take caretaker charge on Sunday.

Martinez’s inability to fix a leaky defence played a key part in his demise – no team outside the bottom five has conceded more than Everton’s 55 goals this season, and they have shipped 11 in their last four games.

If results go against them this weekend, the Merseyside outfit could end the season in the bottom five of the Premier League – their talented squad have not performed this season, and whoever the new boss is at Goodison Park could face a fight to keep their leading lights next time out.

Norwich saw their immediate return to the Championship confirmed despite beating Watford 4-2 in midweek, with a run of eight defeats in their last nine away games sealing their fate.

They have now been relegated from the Premier League on four occasions, a joint-high along with Crystal Palace, and a lack of goals has held them back this time out; Dieumerci Mbokani is their top scorer with just seven goals.

Norwich’s recent record at Goodison Park does not inspire confidence either; their last win there came back in 1993, when Efan Ekoku became the first player ever to score four goals in a Premier League game in the Canaries’ 5-1 victory.

Team News:

The hosts are set to welcome back defensive duo Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman from their respective knocks.

Alex Neil is expected to name an unchanged line-up for the visitors, who remain without Timm Klose, Jonny Howson, Alex Tettey and Andre Wisdom.

League Position: Everton – 12th (44 pts); Norwich – 19th (34 pts)
Last Meeting: Norwich 1-1 Everton (December 12, 2015)
Form: Everton – DDLWLL; Norwich – WLLLLW
Key Players: Everton – Ross Barkley; Norwich – Dieumerci Mbokani
Shoot Says: Everton 2-1 Norwich