After not playing against Manchester City Everton have had an extended break in between games and it has benefitted the side.
Richarlison would have missed the Manchester City game but because it was postponed, he has not, and the Brazilian will be back for the West Ham match at Goodison Park.
Carlo Ancelotti said: “One of them is okay. The other one unfortunate not, we have to wait a little. Richarlison is okay. James Rodriguez, no.”
So, no James again for Everton but they have coped splendidly fine without him winning their last four league games on the run.
There was genuine excitement for the Manchester City game from fans and neutrals as well as Everton could have gonelevel on points with neighbours Liverpool.
The red side of Merseyside have been stumbling in recent games with two draws against West Brom and Newcastle meaning that even after playing a game more Liverpool are only four points clear of their local rivals.
If Everton beat West Ham, they will be one point off top and if the league table carries on the way it is going it could be a Merseyside and Red side of Manchester title race which wouldn’t do the anxiety of the North West of England any good, at all.
To help with the potential title race Ancelotti confirmed some dates for players returning from injury.
For James Rodriguez the Italian said they hope he will be back in time for the 9th of January meaning he could return for the FA Cup tie against Rotherham.
For Allan and Lucas Digne he said: “Allan is doing individual treatment. At least around the end of January he will be ready. Lucas Digne is doing individual sessions and could maybe train with the team in one week to 10 days.”
So, some real positive injury news for Everton at last.
West Ham will be looking to end Everton’s wining run with former blues boss David Moyes coming back to Goodison Park yet again.
The Hammers have had a fairly positive season so far sitting in tenth place only three points off fifth.
These two sides have already come up against each other this season in the League Cup and Everton ran absolute riot winning 4-1 so the team from London will be seeking some sort of revenge.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin ran riot in that game scoring a hattrick but in recent games he hasn’t been scoring for fun having gone five without a goal.
Ancelotti was insistent that it is no worry to him that Calvert-Lewin has gone on a barren spell saying: “It’s true that DCL didn’t score like he did at the beginning. At Chelsea he was involved in the penalty, against Arsenal, the goal. I don’t need to ask him to score goals.”
It shall be an interesting match with The Toffees having struggled against mid-table sides at times this season, but the team will want to get the new year off to a bang for the supporters who unfortunately won’t be able to attend due to the Liverpool city region being moved into tier 2.
Watching from home again but hopefully for Evertonians with a massive grin across their face.
Written by Elliot Thompson
