Everton vs Blackpool Team News

Last updated : 04 February 2011 By INOIT

Everton hope to welcome back leading goalscorer Tim Cahill following his return from international duty.Tony Hibbert will be monitored after missing Tuesday's defeat at Arsenal with a virus.

Doubtful: Cahill (fatigue), Hibbert (virus)

Injured: Barkley (leg)

Blackpool

Doubtful: Adam (calf), Vaughan (knee)

Injured: Basham (leg), Crainey (ankle), Clarke, Gilks & Martin (all knee), Kornilenko (fitness)

MATCH PREVIEW

Few would have predicted at the start of the season that Everton would trail Blackpool in the table after 24 games, but that is the reality following a season of frustration for David Moyes's men.

This team is too good to be involved in the relegation mixer, but it is time for us to start showing it

Everton's Tim Cahill

The Merseysiders have managed just five Premier League wins all season, and go into this match 15th in the table and a mere three points above the relegation zone. Weakened in the January transfer window and with fans' grumbles growing, the Toffees are in desperate need of a morale-boosting three points here as they look to salvage mid-table respectability.

If Blackpool's season has mirrored one of the town's famous rollercoasters, then there is no doubt Ian Holloway's side are currently on a downward trajectory.

The Seasiders head to Goodison Park attempting to arrest an alarming decline that has seen them lose six of their last seven Premier League matches, with the Tangerine dream fast becoming a nightmare.

Only West Brom have conceded more goals than Holloway's side this season, and after shipping three goals for the third time in four matches at home to West Ham in midweek, there is a growing danger that the attacking philosophy that served the club so well earlier in the season could ultimately prove their undoing.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Everton are unbeaten in their last six games against Blackpool (all competitions).

• The Seasiders' last visit to Goodison Park ended in a 3-0 League Cup defeat in August 1980.

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Everton

• Everton have won just two of their last 14 league games.

• No other Premier League team has drawn more matches than The Toffees this season (12).

• Everton have yet to lose a match when they have been level at half time, drawing eight and winning three.

Blackpool

• Blackpool have lost six of their last seven league games - and seven of the last eight in all competitions.

• They have conceded 15 goals in 2011, more than any other club in the division.

• James Beattie scored 15 goals in 86 matches for Everton from 2005 to 2007.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Everton

Cahill: 9 goals (9 league); Coleman & Beckford: 5 goals (3 league); Saha: 5 goals (2 league)

Blackpool

Campbell: 9 goals (9 league)*; Adam: 6 goals (5 league)

*Includes 1 goal (1 league) for Leicester

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kevin Friend

Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Andy Halliday

Fourth official: Howard Webb

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Everton (L1-2 v Arsenal, a): Howard, Neville (Jagielka 78), Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Coleman (Anichebe 78), Arteta, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov (Osman 65), Saha. Subs not used: Mucha, Beckford, Gueye, Baxter.

Blackpool (L1-3 v West Ham, h): Kingson, Eardley, Baptiste, Cathcart (Evatt 46), Carney, Reid (Harewood 60), Vaughan, Adam, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney (Beattie 61). Subs not used: Rachubka, Southern, Grandin, Puncheon.