Royal Blue Mersey - Everton v Apollon Limassol - Europa League Matchday 2It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2017-09-29T09:00:02+01:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/161382312017-09-29T09:00:02+01:002017-09-29T09:00:02+01:00RECAP: Everton 2-2 Apollon Limassol
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r2oKa4LSJOb1d6IqkKvPduXxtAM=/0x0:4509x3006/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56906621/855241526.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Blues embarrassing in dreadful draw against minnows</p> <p id="DUYmUo"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s Europa League ambitions were dealt another severe blow yesterday evening as the pressure continues to mount on <span>Ronald Koeman</span>.</p>
<p id="pFFbDL">I am running out of adjectives to describe our almost unbearable first half performances. Slow, sloppy, tense, unimaginative and players unclear on what the game plan actually is. Two defensive midfielders and two talented yet sluggish number tens and we’re wondering why there is no pace? In a game against, let’s be honest, much inferior opposition the manager again refuses to inject any pace into the line up and instead opts for his usually stubborn approach. </p>
<p id="JK0E5h">The system strangled the players in the attack so it doesn’t help when your most experienced and fit centre half resembles a drunk infant deer. <span>Ashley Williams</span> provided one of his trademark sloppy passes in a critical area and gave the ball away to Anton Maglica who put the ball on a plate for Adrian Sardinero and the Limassol front man bundled his gift into the Gwladys Street goal, 1-0 to the Cypriot minnows after just 13 minutes and the worst thing was, I wasn’t really that surprised.</p>
<p id="3dbYlg">Just a minute earlier <span>Wayne Rooney</span> was put through on goal by one of <span>Jordan Pickford</span>’s trademark monster kicks, but he failed to control. However Rooney would get a goal on 21 minutes as Limassol defender Hector Yuste did his best Ashley Williams impression and hit a dreadful back pass which Rooney pounced on and poked home, a slice of luck that was ever so badly needed. He had the chance to double his tally on the half hour mark as Williams of all people dribbled his way past two defenders and found Rooney who curled a lovely effort agonisingly wide of the mark. There were a couple more half chances but nothing really significant and even the referee had seen enough as he decided not to add on any stoppage time.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/s4XOaTJpEv4Di2p8Rz_WGENJV9Y=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9352679/855234506.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Nikola Vlasic scores his first Everton goal</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ghq0dM">There was a sign that maybe, just maybe, Koeman had realised that you don’t need two defensive midfielders when playing a team of Limassol’s level at home as he replaced Idrissa Gueye with Nikola Vlasic at the break. Vlasic was absolutely outstanding and changed the game for the Blues with his direct running and ability to pop up in open spaces. The young Croatian ace opened his Toffees account on 66 minutes after being cleverly released by Gylfi Sigurdsson. Rooney attempted to spread the ball out wide but instead his ball ricocheted of a Limassol body and in to the path of the Iceman who instinctively poked the ball through to the already clean through Vlasic and he coolly slotted home and gave Everton the lead. </p>
<p id="ArbqjX">Immediately after the goal Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Davy Klaassen were introduced in place of Tom Davies and the extremely disappointing Sandro Ramirez and the impact these changes had was eye opening. With DCL and Vlasic now doing the running up top it allowed Sigurdsson to slot into a second striker role and gave Rooney the pace to delicately and delightfully pick passes and feed the hungry and tenacious forwards. </p>
<p id="Xe2zwk">It was an absolute universe away from the turgid first half performance as Rooney and Sigurdsson were at their creative best and Vlasic and DCL caused countless problems for the visitors. If I and half of Twitter can see this then I’d hope the man who is paid a substantial amount of money to manage this team can see it, but that remains to be seen as we host a rock solid <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> side at Goodison this Sunday.</p>
<p id="4IZHKn">Sadly however the upturn in performance and tempo did not result in another goal, with DCL coming so very close to clinching the game after he superbly dropped his shoulder and curled an effort just wide of the mark after an inch perfect through pass from Rooney. This miss and his later more blatant one would prove ever so costly as the visitors, whose only previous visit to England saw them beaten 6-1 across Stanley Park, would snatch a late leveller. Just to add salt to the wounds, the visitors would go down to ten men before they got their second.</p>
<aside id="iB9EXt"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Man of the Match and Player Grades Poll for Everton vs Apollon Limassol","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16381152/man-of-the-match-player-grades-poll-everton-vs-apollon-limassol-europa-league-koeman"},{"title":"Why Everton fans still shouldn’t panic","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/29/16381842/everton-europa-league-apollon-limassol-koeman-recap-news-latest-soccer-bad"}]}'></div></aside><p id="TJDJ6E"> However just one minute later Davy Klaassen gave away a cheap free kick on the left flank which was delivered by Portuguese wing back Joao Pedro. His ball was flicked on somewhere in the crowd and Jordan Pickford could only watch as the ball nestled in the Park End net. Hector Yuste was the man who got the goal, making amends for his earlier mistake which lead to Everton’s equaliser.</p>
<p id="lPqUPu">A minute later and Everton should have had a winner. Vlasic again did superbly on the left flank and wriggled his way into crossing space, putting the ball on a plate for DCL who had a free header from 6 yards out but failed to convert, a fatal cocktail of poor finishing and heroic goalkeeping. You could lament the young forward for missing a couple of big chances but in all honesty this game should have been won a long time before the 90th minute,. </p>
<p id="AkWqgH">That result and the first 65 minutes for me is one of the most embarrassing I can remember ever watching. Let’s just remind ourselves of who we were playing. Apollon Limassol, from Cyprus, who came in third in that country’s league. </p>
<p id="35zPz9">Ronald Koeman is persisting with a style that doesn’t work in any way, shape or form and he seems to be the only man in the Football world who can’t see it. In almost every game this season our last 15-20 minutes have been monumentally better than the rest of the match, why? Because the manager is more often than not forced to change the system and bring on pacey, direct players like DCL, Vlasic, Lookman who in turn put the opposition defence under pressure and allow Rooney/Sigurdsson the space that they were suffocated of in the first 60 minutes due to the cluttered system. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results; remind you of anyone?</p>
<p id="oGzmDs"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/29/16381822/recap-everton-2-2-apollon-limassol-europa-league-koeman-rooney-vlasic-williams-holgateCalDumbell2017-09-29T08:00:02+01:002017-09-29T08:00:02+01:00Koeman says Everton are afraid of playing forward
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/egCEhrmsxJVQo27JHfgJL6XXoes=/0x0:1182x788/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56906689/855226724.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ronald Koeman | Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Manager comes down hard on players after limp display again</p> <p id="XdHJHx"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> came back from behind and then let slip a lead late in the game to draw 2-2 against Cypriot side Apollon Limassol in the Europa League yesterday. The result sees the Blues rooted to the bottom spot of Group E after two games, with Atalanta on top with four points, three points ahead of Everton. </p>
<p id="p30Lqm">After the game manager <span>Ronald Koeman</span> accused his players of playing afraid and not applying themselves. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="Y8ykny">“You saw the first 20 minutes. You saw enough. The way we started – every ball was back instead of playing forwards. If you analyse the first goal, it is given away easily and we didn’t defend against the striker. </p>
<p id="SF9ZlY">“How can you get your confidence back in a difficult period when the team is struggling?</p>
<p id="luQJFo">“The players are under the level they can bring. They have difficulties on the ball. Then it's 2-1 and you have more chances to win the game and still you draw the game.</p>
<p id="L746cr">“That is not helping confidence. It is another difficult moment.”</p>
</blockquote>
<div id="RDw8KJ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | <a href="https://twitter.com/RonaldKoeman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonaldKoeman</a>'s post-Apollon evertontv verdict...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCmatchday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCmatchday</a> <a href="https://t.co/JI9F428BGN">pic.twitter.com/JI9F428BGN</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/913541286589796353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="nCYJPe">He was encouraged by the play of second half substitute Nikola Vlasic who was a real livewire and got the Blues’ go-ahead goal. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="bi0mcl">"You can take the positives out of individual performances like Nikola Vlasic but he is 19 and that is sometimes difficult to understand. He brought energy, he brought football. It is so difficult if you have so many players struggling.</p>
<p id="tTkCIN">“They are looking for the safe option. If you start well it gives energy to everybody. But how we started and how we conceded the first goal shows we are struggling.</p>
<p id="P4gzUq">“I am disappointed because we had three points in our hands. We deserved the three points but it is a difficult situation.”</p>
</blockquote>
<aside id="iMnlvh"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Man of the Match and Player Grades Poll for Everton vs Apollon Limassol","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16381152/man-of-the-match-player-grades-poll-everton-vs-apollon-limassol-europa-league-koeman"},{"title":"Everton 2-2 Apollon Limassol - Instant reaction","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16380988/everton-2-2-apollon-limassol-europa-league-instant-reaction-nikola-vlasic"}]}'></div></aside><p id="oSPZPT">The manager added that he could understand how the fans felt, and said the players hadn’t given up. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="nF3rZz">“They are fighting. I cannot say they are not running or fighting but they are afraid of playing.</p>
<p id="n8FN0f">“That is difficult. In the situation we are in, and yes I can tell it, we are missing seven or eight players. That's too much in the situation we are in. We had two wins and another today would have made a difference. It is in the head of the players.</p>
<p id="uY8M9q">“As a manager you can help the team and select the team but when the whistle goes you are not the one who plays the ball back.</p>
<p id="7cyDQZ">“It is about giving the players options but we are scared to play forward.</p>
<p id="X0MYVB">“Sometimes there are not enough options for the forwards but in that case play the ball into the channels instead of the goalkeeper. We know the fans like us to go forward, not back, back, back. Then it is difficult to create chances.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="4nIvyW"></p>
<p id="SDe1Rl"></p>
<p id="W4Tu7h"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/29/16383094/koeman-everton-apollon-afraid-of-playing-confidence-vlasic-difficult-disappointedCalvin2017-09-29T06:28:22+01:002017-09-29T06:28:22+01:00Why Everton fans still shouldn’t panic
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1RYYv3x_fcv61-2YvYueMnjkmpw=/1x0:3853x2568/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56906499/855241892.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Or something like that. </p> <p id="qTLdGR">At several turns now, I’ve insisted that everybody calm down. I said it when Everton were facing the toughest opening stretch of games in the Premier League, I said it when our offence seemed anaemic beyond belief, I insisted that we not rashly call for Ronald Koeman to be fired because, frankly, there are not a whole lot of better options. </p>
<p id="nUT6eX">After this draw against a team from the Cypriot league, a team that only spent £23k this past summer - yes, that’s a k - where do we turn? I guess we could point out that we’re only one point out of qualification for the knockout stages of the UEL, that Atalanta is probably going to beat Apollon and that a win against Lyon would move us into qualification position, but what reason do we really have to think that will actually occur?</p>
<aside id="LSxqVr"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"If Ronald Koeman is sacked, who could replace him?","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/everton-2017-2018-season/2017/9/18/16327976/koeman-sacked-fired-everton-news-latest"},{"title":"Should Everton persist with Koeman, or not?","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/everton-2017-2018-season/2017/9/15/16310486/ronald-koeman-under-fire-everton-results-atalanta-europa-league-news-latest"}]}'></div></aside><p id="YlRGsl">We face <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> this weekend, a team that is better at getting results than they are at playing football, I guess Oumar Niasse will be back on the field, but the fact that is considered a good thing is a commentary in itself. (Don’t get me wrong, I started the <em>“let’s start Oumar”</em> train and I’m still on it, but he’s not a season-saving player.) </p>
<p id="945Wq0">The manager refuses to pick starting lineups intelligently, belligerently insisting that his ideas will work despite ample evidence that they do not, yet it remains true that if we fire him it’s highly unlikely that we’ll find actual quality to replace him. Any pipe dream managers we had in mind will certainly be swallowed up by interest in the Bayern vacancy, and there just isn’t much else. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WNnZ0RTOXfQYLRKMj_NuHnvTw-o=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9350685/855213366.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="Ztz6jn">Panic probably still isn’t the right word, but unfortunately, the right word is probably resignation. Finishing 7th while doing very well in Cup competitions could be a good year, finishing 7th and flaming out in all the cups - which is what we look like we are headed toward - is just a serious failure of ambition. Therefore, we are resigned to the idea that for all the money that changed hands last summer we are for the moment no better off than we were at the end of the last campaign. </p>
<p id="qzXaIg">It shouldn’t be this way. We bought quality players. I still believe in Sandro Ramirez and Davy Klaassen despite the fact that I know much of the fanbase is ready to ship them off to Siberia. Gylfi Sigurdsson, <span>Jordan Pickford</span>, and Michael Keane continue to prove their worth. Nikola Vlasic has been a revelation. But the manager just will not array these pieces in a way that has any serious hope of being consistently successful. </p>
<aside id="8aUSvq"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton is the worst team in the Premier League","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/everton-2017-2018-season/2017/9/11/16287154/everton-tottenham-bad-news-latest-hope"},{"title":"Despite disappointing Deadline Day for Everton, there’s no reason to panic","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/1/16236692/everton-transfer-news-deadline-day-rumours-latest-breathe-dont-panic-arsenal-sucks"}]}'></div></aside><p id="ShjegK">I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: either Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Niasse need to start every single game. Sandro and <span>Wayne Rooney</span> do not combine well because both want to drift out wide. I’ll say this again also, for as long as <span>Seamus Coleman</span> is out we simply cannot rely on our fullbacks to be the only real width on the field. My colleagues here at RBM have pointed out that we have real wingers, we just refuse to use them. </p>
<p id="YWJOXM">These are not hard concepts. This is not some dark magic secret of the universe. This is basic football and right now <span>Ronald Koeman</span> just doesn’t get it. He not only doesn’t get it, but he’s blaming his players for his own mistakes. That’s a man who has lost control. That’s a man who no longer needs to be in charge of this operation. </p>
<div id="dwmLYL">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Koeman: "They are fighting. I cannot say they are not running, fighting but they are afraid."</p>— Everton FC News (@LivEchoEFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LivEchoEFC/status/913512880582135808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="ll5isv">We still don’t really have a better option out there than Koeman, but frankly a person doesn’t need to be even a good manager to be able to learn from basic mistakes and not blame players for them. We have quality, we just need someone in the dugout who is more concerned with the results of <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> football club than he is with proving his own philosophy to the football world. </p>
<p id="U5a8RX">If we do not win <strong>every single game</strong> until we play <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> in the Carabao Cup (and yes, that includes <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>), I’m Koeman out. This is ridiculous. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/29/16381842/everton-europa-league-apollon-limassol-koeman-recap-news-latest-soccer-badZhhicks2017-09-28T22:05:45+01:002017-09-28T22:05:45+01:00Everton 2-2 Apollon Limassol - Instant reaction
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/abqAh_fCkbcM-GCFWm0MTEQFrOk=/127x0:3613x2324/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56900997/855240604.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Everton throw away victory by conceding sloppy late equaliser </p> <p id="cgnYrV"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s Europa League hopes have been dealt a severe blow after conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Apollon Limassol.</p>
<p id="8AxjDo">Some immediate thoughts on tonight’s game: </p>
<p id="qCKnTB"><span>Ashley Williams</span> has failed to impress in an Everton shirt since moving from Swansea last year and his cause wasn’t helped by another horrendous error. Like at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, Williams gave the ball away deep inside his own half allowing the opposition to go on and score. Unfortunately for <span>Ronald Koeman</span> he has little choice but to keep playing the Welshman given the number of injuries he has to central defenders</p>
<p id="1jni9m">There was a lot of expectation on Sandro Ramirez’s shoulders when he joined over the summer and the young Spaniard is clearly struggling to cope with that burden. The effort and desire was there, and he certainly showed glimpses of his qualities tonight, but he is clearly badly lacking in confidence. </p>
<p id="DyPtHQ">Once again Everton found themselves lacking in pace so Ronald Koeman responded by throwing on Nikola Vlasic at half-time. The Croatian’s vibrancy immediately energised the team, who looked much more of an attacking threat in the second half. He took his goal well and had a few other opportunities to double his tally. The 19-year-old is definitely in contention to start on Sunday.</p>
<p id="I1K875">Dominic Calvert-Lewin also impressed coming off the bench as Everton began to dominate during the second half. He came close to sealing the game with a wonderful curling effort late on and surely must be restored to the starting line-up against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>.</p>
<p id="I6bC6P">The draw, in truth, is harsh on Everton who dominated the second half but were made to pay dearly for failing to kill the game off. The equalising goal was a disaster from start to finish, with Davy Klaassen committing a silly foul to concede the free-kick and Everton failing to properly mark their men in the penalty area. This was Everton’s “easiest” game on paper and a failure to win leaves them facing an uphill challenge to try and get out of the group.</p>
<p id="3Kqmti"> </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16380988/everton-2-2-apollon-limassol-europa-league-instant-reaction-nikola-vlasicTom Mallows2017-09-28T21:55:34+01:002017-09-28T21:55:34+01:00Man of the Match and Player Grades Poll for Everton vs Apollon Limassol
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Apollon Limassol - UEFA Europa League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sirbB5cx3rMjOOPeaQplNGz__tg=/0x0:4439x2959/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56900871/855213428.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Grade the Everton players and manager on their performance today</p> <p id="hr2xuj">Another poor start doomed the Blues as they threw away a late lead to draw at home 2-2 against Apollon Limassol. </p>
<p id="MT9wy0">The hosts were hot and cold in the first half, starting well and then promptly switching off allowing the Cypriot side to score first after a combination of mistakes from the backline. However, an equally awful mistake by Apollon allowed <span>Wayne Rooney</span> score one of the easiest goals he’ll ever get. </p>
<p id="Do6Tkr">The Blues were then much more aggressive to finish the half with a couple of good looks at goal but the score stayed 1-1 at the break. </p>
<p id="AILonf"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> then started the second half with more vigour, with a quicker tempo to their play especially with halftime substitute Nikola Vlasic opening up the left wing. It was no surprise then when he scored from a through ball by Rooney soon after the hour mark. </p>
<p id="Qmuh3U">The game then opened up with the visitors chasing an equalizer. Vlasic, Rooney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all had late chances and came close to putting the game away. </p>
<p id="Ct9eo7">They would come to regret the missed chances, after Apollon scored a late tying goal from a setpiece that was headed just beyond Pickford’s dive. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="XGEVAk">
<p id="FCS5f7">Who was your Man of the Match? Vote on the player grades here on how they did. </p>
<p id="Qm0i1Q"><em>If this poll is not showing up on your screen, please </em><a href="https://goo.gl/forms/xcduj3jc9VRf6JxC3"><em>click here</em></a><em> to go and grade the players - we apologize for the inconvenience.</em></p>
<div id="yiTRNR"><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVv5TAv3ETkqIvxByvqV8nSKD6C2ltwEVNDsF85QJHIevCjA/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="700" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe></div>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16381152/man-of-the-match-player-grades-poll-everton-vs-apollon-limassol-europa-league-koemanCalvin2017-09-28T19:02:15+01:002017-09-28T19:02:15+01:00Everton at Apollon Limassol: How To Watch & Gamethread
<figure>
<img alt="Atalanta v Everton FC - UEFA Europa League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Me4AEQyAblvGatT1STcszJqvG8s=/0x0:4560x3040/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56846695/846980732.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Blues really need to get three points from their second group stage match</p> <p id="h5iluT">It’s still early in the Europa League, but because <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> were thumped 3-0 at Atalanta in the opening match of the group stage, the Toffees desperately need three points when they host Apollon Limassol. Better yet, a blowout win would put them back in the driver’s seat of the group.</p>
<p id="1Ja0vZ">Apollon drew 1-1 with Lyon their first time out. The club from Cyprus’ top flight are undoubtedly the underdogs of the group. They boast little to no star power but Everton cannot take them lightly.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HS9lR-tFR5qXn2pwA1sCKDrr6wI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9323399/table.PNG">
</figure>
<aside id="34OveS"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Europa League Scouting Report: Apollon Limassol","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/everton-2017-2018-season/2017/9/3/16205016/europa-league-everton-apollon-limassol-news-latest-draw"}]}'></div></aside><h1 id="tj4rzW">Match Details</h1>
<p id="Tn0k5V"><strong>Date and start time:</strong> Thursday, September 28th at 12:05 p.m. PT / 3:05 p.m ET / 8:05 p.m. BST</p>
<p id="jLb1aE"><strong>Stadium:</strong> Goodison Park, <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/england">England</a></p>
<p id="zsVmIG"><strong>Capacity: </strong>40,157</p>
<p id="jWmOa0"><strong>Weather: </strong>56°F/13°C, rainy, 4% chance of rain, 5 mph winds</p>
<h1 id="NylbZy">How to Watch/Listen</h1>
<p id="ZqDVb5"><strong>TV:</strong> Fox Sports 1 - <em>United States</em><em>; </em>BT Sport 2<em> - </em> <em>United Kingdom</em></p>
<p id="mGBAfE"><strong>Radio: </strong>Everton Match Centre</p>
<p id="RIzcMT"><strong>Live stream:</strong><strong> </strong>BT Sport Live, Fox Sports GO, ESPN3, WatchESPN, Fox Soccer Match Pass</p>
<p id="eB2O1I"><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2575326/everton-vs-apollon/">Information from LiveSoccerTV.com</a></p>
<h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN">Everton</h3>
<p id="HBo89P"><strong>Starting XI </strong>- Pickford; Baines, Williams, Holgate, Kenny; Davies, Schneiderlin, Gueye; Sigurdsson, Sandro, Rooney</p>
<p id="sCVCti"><strong>Bench</strong> - Stekelenburg, Martina, Klaassen, Vlasic, Lookman, Mirallas, Calvert-Lewin</p>
<h3 id="xY65uV">Apollon Limassol</h3>
<p id="n1FsMV"><strong>Starting XI </strong>- Bruno Vale; Vasiliou, Roberge, Yuste, Joao Pedro; Alef, Sachetti, Allan; Adrian Sardinero, Maglica, Jakolis</p>
<p id="cQhrSG"><strong>Bench </strong>- Kissas, Martínez, Alex, Zelaya, Jander, Stylianou, Schembri</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16363272/everton-apollon-limassol-europa-league-start-time-lineups-tv-schedule-live-stream-how-watch-online_TyYoung2017-09-28T09:00:02+01:002017-09-28T09:00:02+01:00Evertonscope for New Moon in Virgo against Apollon Limassol
<figure>
<img alt="Everton v Sunderland - Carabao Cup Third Round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A95xSPku5K3QkYZQNtTiiWA8LJI=/0x0:3957x2638/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56882117/850265466.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="hYrmkS"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s game against Apollon Limassol comes after a few wins against Bournemouth and <a href="https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/">Sunderland</a>.</p>
<p id="7qCni4">Everton’s last Europa game ended in an extremely disappointing 3-0 loss against Atalanta and <span>Ronald Koeman</span> has made it clear that he wants his best on the field on Thursday.</p>
<p id="xvhkVr">The new moon in Virgo will cause the team to reflect on the fundamentals. It will serve as a reminder to the team that they are a talented group with a lot of potential. The Toffees will work relentlessly to increase goal scoring. </p>
<p id="jQtyLY">As a Virgo, Mo Besic will be especially affected by the new moon in Virgo. He is not likely to get a start against Apollon Limassol, but regardless of his status, he will use this time to focus and reset. Some people noted that Besic did not play his best against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup and has yet to impress after his long time out from injury. But do not count Mo out just yet.</p>
<p id="jsIhm9">As a Virgo, Mo’s mission will be to fix this. He will find a way to make it right again. Considered to be the most analytical of the signs, Virgos can sometimes come across as very serious and a little bit shy. </p>
<p id="fFQd7X">Whether on the bench, on the training ground, or in the game, Mo is going to use this time to break down his whole process and put it back together again. He will find his form again and the fans will take notice closer to mid-season. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16375302/everton-horoscope-for-new-moon-in-virgo-against-apollon-limassolRachel Rose Gold2017-09-28T06:00:01+01:002017-09-28T06:00:01+01:00Everton vs Apollon Limassol: Injury Report
<figure>
<img alt="Manchester United v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3E0TL-lc7tlUWmnlzkrysHa068A=/0x0:4412x2941/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56888327/848386334.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Keane | Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Who’s in and who’s out for the Blues Europa League game</p> <p id="YNsXGH"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> take on Apollon Limassol today in the Europa League looking to get their European campaign back on track after an embarrassing loss last time around at Atalanta. </p>
<p id="MX0DCI">The Blues will have to get by with their makeshift defence of <span>Ashley Williams</span> and Mason Holgate once again as <span>Phil Jagielka</span> and Michael Keane remain out with a tweaked hamstring and cut foot respectively. </p>
<p id="WuxigU"><span>Wayne Rooney</span> appears to have recovered well from the cut above his eye that saw him taken off on Saturday against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/afc-bournemouth">AFC Bournemouth</a>. He trained yesterday with the rest of the group and seemed to be in good spirits. </p>
<p id="RvUy2X">Midfielder James McCarthy remains out and will not be in today’s squad despite being selected for the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming internationals. Academy defender Morgan Feeney trained with the first-team squad yesterday and could be included in squad this evening. </p>
<aside id="plO8TS"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Oumar Niasse cannot play in the Europa League group stage — here’s why","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/26/16361588/oumar-niasse-europa-league-cant-play-eligible-ineligible-group-stage-roster-rule-explanation-koeman"},{"title":"Apollon Limassol at Everton: Projected XI","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/27/16363492/everton-lineup-europa-league-apollon-limassol-goodison-park-starting-xi-projected"}]}'></div></aside><p id="GLrERd">Little is known of the opponents tonight. They were decent in their 1-1 draw against Lyon in the last matchday, frustrating the French side with their 4-2-3-1. The Cypriots are a tough-tackling team that did quite well holding the ball too, outshooting Lyon as well. </p>
<p id="vfGkyf">Apollon are currently in eighth place in the Cypriot league, having picked up five points from their opening three games. Veteran forward Andrea Schembri has four goals in ten total appearances this season, while striker Emilio Zelaya has two goals in four games. </p>
<p id="9skzC8">Manager Sofronis Avgousti says the side has no injuries and will have their full squad for the game today. </p>
<p id="5DKnCA"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2017/9/28/16377480/everton-apollon-limassol-injury-report-keane-jagielka-niasse-rooney-sandro-klaassen-zelaya-schembriCalvin