Everton fans will finally get a chance to see new manager Ronald Koeman in the dugout at Goodison Park later today.

A lot of the early optimism with Koeman’s appointment along with the promise of owner Farhad Moshiri’s millions to spend in the transfer market has dissipated, and with just two signings in the window so far, concern has started creeping in. The new season starts in exactly one week and a lot of the issues that plagued the team in the 2015-16 season are still present, this is basically the same team as last term after all.

Muhamed Besic joined the injured ranks this week with the news that he could be looking at a six month spell on the sidelines after incurring a knee injury in Wednesday’s Wayne Rooney testimonial. New signing Idrissa Gueye is expected to feature in the game as his replacement.

Captain Phil Jagielka has still not returned to full training and at this point could be a major doubt for the season-opening fixture against Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday. Spurs thumped fallen Italian giants Inter Milan 6-1 in a preseason game yesterday and have sparkled in the friendlies they’ve played so far. The Blues will need to run rings around Espanyol today to ensure the fans don’t give up hope even before the season begins.

Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona have the unfortunate moniker of being the ‘other’ team from the city of Barcelona and had a rough campaign last year, firing two coaches before finishing in thirteenth place in La Liga. Their new manager is former Watford boss Quique Flores who knows the Toffees quite well after leading the Hornets in strong performances against the Blues previously.

Everton vs Espanyol

Match Details

Date and time: Saturday, August 6th at 3:00 p.m. BST / 10:00 a.m. EST / 7:00 a.m. PST

Stadium: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England

Capacity: 39,572

How to Watch/Listen

TV: LiveSoccerTV

Radio: N/A

Live stream: evertontv (subscription required)

Lineups: TBA

Everton starting XI - Stekelenburg, Baines, Stones, Coleman, Funes Mori, Barkley, Gana, Barry, Deulofeu, Lukaku, Mirallas.

Everton subs - Joel, Jagielka, Oviedo, Holgate, Galloway, McCarthy, Davies, Kone, Lennon, Tarashaj.

Espanyol starting XI - Roberto, Javi López, Álvaro, O. Duarte, R. Duarte, Hernán, Diop, Víctor S., Piatti, Leo Baptsitao, Gerard.

Espanyol subs -