Ronald Koeman’s Everton host West Brom at Goodison Park on Saturday as both sides look to cut the gap to the Premier League’s top six.

The Toffees are seventh in the division and five points behind sixth place Manchester United after a run of six league wins in ten matches, although they did lose their last match 3-2 at Tottenham to end their nine-game unbeaten streak.

Nonetheless, Koeman’s men have lost just once at Goodison Park this season, 1-0 to Merseyside rivals Liverpool on December 19, and will be confident of recording a 13th victory of the campaign on Saturday.

However, Tony Pulis’ West Brom are just a place and four points behind the Toffees having won 11 of their 27 Premier League games this season, but they also go into Saturday’s clash off the back of a defeat, having lost 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace last weekend.

Yet with just one defeat in their preceding eight league matches, the Baggies will also be confident going into Saturday’s encounter, which should make for a fascinating afternoon on Merseyside.

With the build-up well underway ahead of Saturday’s game, we’ve analysed the THREE key battles which could decide the outcome at Goodison Park…

Seamus Coleman vs Nacer Chadli

Seamus Coleman has once again been one of Everton’s standout performers this season, be it at right-back or in the wing-back role.

The Republic of Ireland international has started 24 of their 27 Premier League games this term, scoring four times and laying on a further three assists.

Four of those seven contributions have come since the turn of the year where the 28-year-old has been used more often as a wing-back, which brilliantly complements his energy, work-rate, and overall desire to get forward, hence his greater effect in the final third.

However, Coleman may be restricted in his attacking endeavours this weekend as he’ll likely come up against Nacer Chadli, who has been on a fine run of form in recent weeks.

Although he didn’t have his best game against Crystal Palace last time out, the Belgian international has scored once and laid on two assists in his last four matches for the Baggies, helping them to wins over Stoke and Bournemouth, as well as a draw at West Ham.

The £13 million man has scored five and laid on four assists in 22 Premier League appearances this term, and his recent displays suggest that he’s enjoying his football and is confident in his ability, which means that Coleman will have to be at his best to thwart the 27-year-old.

Chadli will also have to do his fair share of defensive duties, such is Coleman’s own attacking preferences, so it’s shaping up to be quite the battle down the Everton right on Saturday.

Idrissa Gueye vs Jake Livermore

As is often the case in the Premier League matches, the battle of midfield supremacy has a huge bearing on which side goes on to win the match.

And Saturday looks set to be no different.

In Idrissa Gueye, Koeman has a midfielder who has made more tackles than anyone else in the league this season, including Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, and is arguably one of the best at breaking up play and thwarting opposition attacks.

The Senegalese international has started Everton’s last three league games since his return from the African Cup of Nations, which underlines his importance to Koeman’s side as the Dutchman has got the likes of James McCarthy, Gareth Barry, and Morgan Schneiderlin at his disposal.

However, Gueye will have to be near his best on Saturday to get the better of Jake Livermore, who has made a solid start to life at the Hawthorns following his £10 million move from Hull in January.

The Englishman has started their last four Premier League games, and produced a man-of-the-match display to help Pulis’ men get the better of Stoke 1-0 on February 4.

The 27-year-old is strong and marshals the Baggies back four well, yet he will come under a lot of pressure from Gueye on Saturday, so his ability to distribute the ball quickly and keep things moving will be key to West Brom’s chances at Goodison Park.

Romelu Lukaku vs Gareth McAuley

Romelu Lukaku netted his 18th Premier League goal of the season in the Toffees’ 3-2 defeat at Tottenham last weekend to maintain his excellent run of form.

The 23-year-old has scored nine goals in nine games since the turn of the year, including four in their 6-3 victory over Bournemouth on February 4, and has only failed to net in one of Everton’s last four league matches.

The Belgian has got the pace, strength, and intelligence to trouble many a Premier League defence, yet 37-year-old Gareth McAuley will use his experience and nous to try and thwart the Everton man on Saturday.

The Northern Ireland international has been sensational at the back for the Baggies this term, and has also been a threat in the opposition penalty area having netted seven times in 29 appearances this season.

What McAuley lacks in pace he more than makes up with with his positional awareness and anticipation of play, and aerially he is supremely dominant.

Lukaku will know that he’ll need to be sharp to get the better of McAuley on Saturday afternoon.