Everton V Swansea at Goodison Park : Match Preview

18 November 2016 23:34
Everton V Swansea - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Ronald Koeman predicts strong Everton reaction to thrashing at Chelsea

Everton boss Ronald Koeman feels the "unacceptable" performance at Chelsea was a major step in the wrong direction for his side but he expects a positive reaction against Swansea.

After the Toffees ended a four-match winless run in the Premier League by beating West Ham 2-0 at home, they were brought back down to earth in their last outing as they crashed to a 5-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.

Koeman saw fault in "every aspect" of the team's display but believes his players shared the disappointment, and he is looking ahead to Saturday's Goodison Park contest against the second-bottom Swans in an optimistic mood.

The Dutchman, whose side are currently seventh, said of the November 5 game at Chelsea in which Everton were 3-0 down by half-time: "That was unacceptable.

"You can lose, but not in the way we lost, even against a Chelsea side as strong as they were that day. We made it too easy for them.

"I hate losing, but we can lose a game - we are not that quality that we will win always. But it's about the way how you lose a game, and that was not the way.

"It was a big step back that we showed, in every aspect of football - in intensity, in defending, in running, in quality on the ball.

"We need to improve, because that is not the team I like to see. But I'm really optimistic that we will get a very good reaction on Saturday.

"It is always about the personality of the team, the players. We're playing at home and we're strong at home, and we have to show that again, and that what happened maybe can happen one day, but not more.

"I have seen they understand the disappointment of what happened at Chelsea."

Everton defender Ashley Williams, who joined from Swansea over the summer, is set to come up against his former employers for the first time since the move.

Williams was with the Welsh club for eight years, skippering them for the latter part of that time, and Koeman admits the 32-year-old's knowledge of the opposition will be useful.

Regarding Williams facing his old side, Koeman said: "That is always special for players.

"He played a long time for Swansea and was really important - he was their captain, and of course, he has a lot of respect.

"He can give some good info about them. He is now an Everton player and I'm happy that we have him on Saturday in a blue shirt and not a white one."

Leighton Baines and James McCarthy are both available for Everton's Premier League home clash with Swansea on Saturday after recovering from hamstring problems.

Left-back Baines and midfielder McCarthy are ready to return following seven and three games out respectively.

Gareth Barry misses out as he serves a one-match suspension, but Idrissa Gueye is back after a ban.

Swansea boss Bob Bradley admits his side miss the leadership qualities of Williams.

"I've heard many stories about Ashley and the stories always begin with his leadership ability," Bradley said.

"So I understand when a player who carries that type of responsibility within a team chooses to leave then work needs to be done to build that type of leadership back into the team.

"It may not come from one player, it may come from a group of players. But without a doubt we need more leadership.

"We need leadership on the field in different ways. Leadership can be a strong voice, but it is also making plays.

"Someone in the right moment of the game if the team has become too tentative - someone to step out, close down a little faster, put guys under pressure.

"We need more guys that when the game starts are ready to take real action. When you lose a leader everybody is challenged to take a bigger role, that has been the message to our group in recent weeks."

Nathan Dyer will return to the Swansea squad after ankle surgery.

Winger Dyer, who has featured only once in the Premier League this season, returned to full training this week after two months out and is set for a place on the bench.

Jefferson Montero has been given the all clear to play with a cast on his broken hand, but the Ecuador winger might be given extra time to recover fully after only returning to training on Thursday.


Source: PAR