Europa League: Everton vs Lille match preview

A look ahead to Thursday’s Europa League fixture at Goodison Park

Tom Bristow
Wednesday 05 November 2014 13:54 EST
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Roberto Martinez has been pleased with Everton's upturn in results
Roberto Martinez has been pleased with Everton's upturn in results (Getty Images)

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Everton come into this game having only lost one of their last five games, winning two and drawing the remainder. That loss was against Manchester United, with David De Gea solely stopping Everton from picking up a point.

The Toffees have yet to really kick-start their season though, going into Thursday’s clash without so far recording back to back wins in all competitions.

Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o look like they have the makings of a threatening strike partnership, and with Barkley improving in every game he plays back from injury, Everton will look to re-capture the kind of form that got them into the Europa League in the first place.

Lille come into this game having lost three of their last five league matches, only picking up one win. They currently sit 12 in the league with a negative one goal difference. Last season they finished third. Roberto Martinez will be looking to capitalise on this bad patch of form and pick up all three points when they visit Goodison Park on Thursday.

Their form in the Europa League however, has so far been consistent, picking up three points from three draws. They will need to start winning in order to qualify out of the group.

Everton will also be aware of the threat from on-loan Liverpool striker, Divock Origi. The young Belgian showed everyone exactly what he is capable of doing at the World Cup and may feel he has a point to prove having only scored once so far in Europe.

KICK-OFF: Thursday, 8.05pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Lille 0 Everton 0, Europa League, October 2014

STATS…

After ten games, Lille had 15 points in their league, Everton have 13.

Everton are currently unbeaten in the Europa League, as are Lille.

Everton have conceded the fifth highest amount of goals in the Premier League.

Lille have scored the joint least amount of goals in Ligue 1, they have also conceded the joint second least.

ODDS…

Everton to win: 1.83

Lille to win: 4.2

Draw: 3.3

TV: Live on ITV 4 at 8.05pm

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