With the help of new boss Pepe Mel, will West Bromwich Albion be able to defeat Everton at The Hawthorns? (Watch live on NBCSN at 3 p.m. ET, or live online via NBC Sports Live Extra).
Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League, Everton travel to the Midlands knowing that a victory means pulling above rivals Liverpool in the table - and more importantly, taking control of that all important fourth spot, the one that could mean entry into the Champions League. Roberto Martinez will be hoping that Romelu Lukaku snaps out of his goalscoring funk to put one in against his former club. If it happens, that will be the Belgian’s first goal since late November.
But West Brom won’t be eager to have their new manager’s debut tarnished. Pepe Mel, last seen in charge of bottom of the table La Liga side Real Betis, takes the reins for the first time on Monday night. He’s stated that he’s set to have the Baggies playing a much more attacking style, an aggressive approach that will hopefully lift them further up the table. The Albion are currently 14th, just three points above the drop, and have won just once in their last eleven matches.
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Zoopla have already announced their decision to terminate their sponsorship agreement with West Brom at the end of the season, but will this Baggies starting lineup cause them to demand the name be removed from the squad shirts? That’s right, Nicolas Anelka will start against Everton, while former Toffees man Victor Anichebe is on the bench.
For the visitors, was there any doubt? Of course Lukaku will start. Martinez makes two changes to the side that beat Norwich 2-0 last time out, with Sylvain Distin and Bryan Oviedo stepping in, while John Stones and Steven Pienaar drop to the bench. New Everton lad Aidan McGeady is on the bench.
LINEUPS
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Reid, Lugano, Olsson, Ridgewell, Brunt, Morrison, Yacob, Gera, Vydra, Anelka
Subs: Myhill, Mulumbu, Berahino, Jones, Anichebe, Sessegnon, Amalfitano
Everton: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Osman, Oviedo, Mirallas, Lukaku
Subs: Robles, McGeady, Hibbert, Heitinga, Stones, Vellios, Naismith
