Royal Blue Mersey - Everton at Stoke: Premier League Matchday 31It's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2018-03-18T09:00:02+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/168913112018-03-18T09:00:02+00:002018-03-18T09:00:02+00:00Allardyce says he’s responsible for getting Tosun firing for Everton
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<img alt="Stoke City v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Prnb5yU9VBzM54tde4o42e8mTF0=/0x0:5202x3468/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59069625/933055830.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tell us Sam by a show of hands, who was wrong about Cenk Tosun? | Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Never one to shy away from the spotlight when Everton win our Big Sam</p> <p id="i4P81m"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> won only their second away game of the season yesterday, beating 10-man <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> 2-1 thanks to two well-taken goals by Cenk Tosun. The Blues manager <span>Sam Allardyce</span> had criticized the Turkish striker soon after his signing in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">January transfer window</a>, saying that Tosun was struggling with the weather and was off the pace. </p>
<p id="GBG2ii">But now after the ‘war bull’ has potted four times in three games, Big Sam has certainly changed his tune and as expected, is taking the credit for the striker’s good form. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="0jsmdL">“He’s adapted much quicker than lots of front men who came from abroad into the Premier League, particularly in January. Taking him out of the firing line and giving him the opportunity to get to know the players – particularly in Dubai – do the extra training he’s done, we’re seeing the full benefits of that now.</p>
<p id="U3GQqf">“He did it last week against Brighton and he’s the major reason why we won today. He’s always had the finishing in his locker. His hold-up play has got better. He’s got the whole array of finishing in his locker – heading, left foot, right foot, tap-ins, follow-ups – he’s got this knack of being in the right place at the right time and he was certainly that with the quality of his second finish.</p>
<p id="XfW1rG">“It looks like he’s got that knack. He seems to be born with that instinct of where to be.”</p>
</blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">⚽️ | The manager hailed <a href="https://twitter.com/CenkTosun_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CenkTosun_</a> as a "complete finisher" after his match-winning brace against Stoke. How impressed were you today? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EFCmatchday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EFCmatchday</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/zumYFeNcTV">https://t.co/zumYFeNcTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/VFAdZNOTrd">pic.twitter.com/VFAdZNOTrd</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/975081270467231755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a>
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<p id="Xu30j4">A trip to Stoke is always challenging even under normal conditions, but the driving snow made things tougher even though the home side were reduce to 10 men after the half-hour mark following a wild sliding challenge by <span>Charlie Adam</span>. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="mxsBtp">“I’ve never experienced conditions like those, either as a player or manager.</p>
<p id="TC4O3N">“Mastering the conditions was important and both sets of players did their best to make it an entertaining game and because of the quality of our frontman today we won the game and secured another three points, gladly away from home.</p>
<p id="9Zr6vN">“It was going to be difficult in those conditions to break down the 10 men of Stoke so we had to create the opportunities and take advantage. That became easier as the second half went on because we started to probe that little bit quicker.</p>
<p id="TyJE6V">“As the game wore on those spaces opened up and we capitalised on them. What you want is the top-quality marksman to turn the game in your favour and Cenk has done that.</p>
<p id="koukj6">“The only thing we’ve slipped up on is giving Stoke the free-kick which we lost the goal from. We made up for it with Cenk scoring the winner for us.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="D16nR8">So there’s Sam Allardyce for you, always here to take the credit when Everton win but equally ready to blame someone else when the Blues lose. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/18/17135458/stoke-city-everton-1-2-match-recap-cenk-tosun-goals-sam-allardyce-takes-credit-cold-weatherCalvin2018-03-18T07:00:01+00:002018-03-18T07:00:01+00:00Tosun credits ‘Legend of Everton’ for turnaround in his form
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<img alt="Stoke City v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/izYLeYhvgVK00LbUUsmZMJfH_bA=/0x0:3515x2343/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59069453/933055262.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Turkish striker’s brace was the difference yesterday</p> <p id="dCBtJL">Cenk Tosun has certainly come a long way from when <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> manager <span>Sam Allardyce</span> said he wasn’t playing for the Blues yet because he was struggling with the weather conditions. </p>
<p id="Ugiwk1">The Turkish striker scored his third and fourth goals of the season yesterday to lead Everton to a 2-1 victory away at a snowy <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a>, making a mockery of whatever it is Big Sam said about the Turkish striker. </p>
<aside id="MH9xrQ"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton 2-1 Stoke City: CENK","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/17/17133614/everton-stoke-city-recap-score-results-highlights-goals-cenk-tosun-sam-allardyce-snow"}]}'></div></aside><p id="Mbaams">Speaking to <a href="http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2018/03/17/player-reaction">evertonfc.com</a> after the game, the forward credited a former Everton striker and current first team coach for helping him get on track. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="NEtjjj">“I am very happy because of the two goals and the three points. It was very important to win today so I have to thank my teammates. They were great in this hard weather, which made things really difficult, especially in the first half. But it improved in the second half – and we played better, as well.</p>
<p id="d6TUWP">“I work on my game after training with Duncan Ferguson. He was a legend of Everton and he has helped me a lot. We work together on my physique and on my shooting so I can do better on the pitch.</p>
<p id="HPXRwI">“Physically I feel better and I have settled in to the Premier League and England, so I feel better on the pitch as well.”</p>
</blockquote>
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<p id="1GM6gP">Tosun’s goals helped Everton get only their second away win of the season, but bravely dived into headers yesterday on a frozen pitch with the snow flying.</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="RsTCCP">”We had a meeting before the game and talked about our away form and we played better than we have been – it was difficult but very important as well.</p>
<p id="kXb0f0">“I came to a league that continues [to play throughout the season]. We had a winter break in Turkey, so I was not physically 100 per cent when I arrived. I worked on that and now I feel sharper and better and can show more on the pitch.</p>
<p id="c6rNiz">“It was so cold. I could not feel my hands at half-time. But day to day I get better and have to get used to it. This is typical English weather. I like the cold! I grew up in Germany and it is similar to England.”</p>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/18/17135410/everton-transfer-cenk-tosun-two-goals-2-1-stoke-duncan-ferguson-legend-turkey-striker-war-bullCalvin2018-03-17T17:03:34+00:002018-03-17T17:03:34+00:00Everton 2-1 Stoke City: CENK
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<img alt="Stoke City v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2cD0v5dHHiA6lJlMQ-zZseB6Jqg=/0x0:4325x2883/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59065209/933054182.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We love you, big guy. </p> <p id="iwa8xc">“Can he do it on a <s>rainy</s> snowy day in Stoke?” is one of the classic Premier League questions of our time, particularly for new acquisitions. Well, Cenk Tosun has answered the inquiry. His answer is yes. <em>Yes</em>. </p>
<p id="WCDa3E">In <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s time of need - up a man, on the road, going nowhere - the Turkish striker came to the rescue. </p>
<p id="Mjozu0">Tosun latched onto a Dominic Calvert-Lewin rebound to emphatically put Everton into the lead. When poor set piece defending on the other end gave it back again, Cenk was there to head home the game winner from Yannick Bolasie. </p>
<p id="y6J6XA">He’s adjusted to the weather, if that was ever truly a problem. He’s adjusted to the team, and he’s scored 4 goals in 3 games. </p>
<p id="vrNumz">It wasn’t a well played match by either side. Charlie Adam’s rather fraudulent (if we’re being honest) red card made things choppy, and the snowy weather was an utter nightmare for visibility and ball control. </p>
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<img alt="Stoke City v Everton - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QP9_uT2_2h72d7s_AUwPhEjz8LY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10445397/933042778.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="qiU8M0">Tom Davies had to be substituted after a collision with <span>Jack Butland</span>, and replacing him with Dominic Calvert-Lewin only made the situation messier, given that it removed Everton’s extra man in midfield. </p>
<p id="7koVnI">It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. Cenk Tosun isn’t the hero we deserved, but he’s the hero we needed. </p>
<p id="0JJPk0"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/17/17133614/everton-stoke-city-recap-score-results-highlights-goals-cenk-tosun-sam-allardyce-snowevertonchris2018-03-17T14:57:00+00:002018-03-17T14:57:00+00:00Everton at Stoke City: Gamethread
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<img alt="Everton v Stoke City - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lNyILtzfIUlvcUHxmtuUmOQ7ThY=/1x0:5145x3429/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59040097/830716738.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Can the Blues get a win away at the desperate Potters?</p> <p id="OfGLRB"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> are in trouble. With eight matches to play, they are one point from safety in a cluster at the bottom of the Premier League table. The two teams right above them in the standings, <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/crystal-palace">Crystal Palace</a>, have very winnable matches this weekend against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/swansea-city">Swansea City</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/huddersfield-town">Huddersfield Town</a>, respectively. <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> give the Potters a tough matchup, but given the Blues struggles on the road, Stoke will be hoping to maximize points at the bet365 Stadium.</p>
<p id="c4EnZt">Stoke have not won a game since January 20. Everton took all three points from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/brighton-hove-albion">Brighton & Hove Albion</a> at Goodison Park last week, but they have just one win in the league away from home the entire season. That lone victory came way back in December against <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> United.</p>
<p id="jjolTM">These two sides first met this year back on Opening Day, August 12. Ah, there was hope back then. Everton was going to do big things! They beat Stoke 1-0 that day on the strength of Wayne Rooney’s headed goal. Sure, it wasn’t an amazing performance, but it counted all the same. Since then, both clubs have cratered and fired their managers. Everton seem almost safe from the drop at this point, but a loss for Stoke could be killer.</p>
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<h1 id="t9lUce">Match Details</h1>
<p id="Tn0k5V"><strong>Date and start time:</strong> Saturday, March 17th at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m ET / 3 p.m. BST</p>
<p id="jLb1aE"><strong>Stadium:</strong> bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/england">England</a></p>
<p id="sd4UgU"><strong>Capacity: </strong>30,089</p>
<p id="jWmOa0"><strong>Weather: </strong>31°F/-1°C, chance of snow, 31% chance of precipitation, 23 mph winds</p>
<h1 id="NylbZy">How to Watch/Listen</h1>
<p id="ZqDVb5"><strong>TV:</strong> none - <em>United States</em><em>; </em>none <em>- </em> <em>United Kingdom</em></p>
<p id="mGBAfE"><strong>Radio: </strong>Everton Match Centre, TalkSport Radio World</p>
<p id="41ULCC"><strong>Live stream:</strong> NBC Sports Gold</p>
<p id="1tPHX2"><strong>Gamethread:</strong> Comments section below starting one hour before game time</p>
<p id="eB2O1I"><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/2503031/stoke-city-vs-everton/">Information from LiveSoccerTV.com</a></p>
<h1 id="k6zWnV">Lineups</h1>
<h3 id="Zz6RPN">Everton</h3>
<p id="YuqXMK"><strong>Starting XI:</strong> Pickford, Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Baines; Gueye, Davies, Rooney; Walcott, Tosun, Bolasie </p>
<p id="fKYfDg"><strong>Subs:</strong> Robles, Martina, Holgate, Klaassen, Schneiderlin, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse</p>
<h3 id="hYm7g5">Stoke City</h3>
<p id="8vQ3XZ"><strong>Starting X</strong><strong>I:</strong> Butland; Johnson, Zouma, Shawcross, Stafylidis; Badou, Adam, Allen; Shaqiri, Crouch, Ramadan </p>
<p id="G6UOkl"><strong>Subs: </strong>Haugaard, Bauer, Martins Indi, Fletcher, Choupo-Moting, Jese, Berahino</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/17/17124498/everton-stoke-city-lineups-tv-schedule-live-stream-how-to-watch-online-premier-league-2018_TyYoung2018-03-17T07:00:01+00:002018-03-17T07:00:01+00:00Will the England starting goalkeeper job get decided today?
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<img alt="England Training" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SxMlXNT8GIM-iLpyexx5t4iSYxM=/0x0:3009x2006/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59062183/873541764.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Pickford goes head-to-head against Butland</p> <p id="Uu3kHG"><span>Jordan Pickford</span> and <span>Jack Butland</span> have emerged as front-runners for the starting goalkeeper role for England, with manager Gareth Southgate recently saying that the position is ‘up for grabs’. </p>
<p id="XmjzUO">Bot have manned the posts for their teams who have undergone disappointing campaigns with <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> foundering mid-table and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> just off the bottom of the Premier League. Incumbent <span>Joe Hart</span> has been simply awful and will likely not even be on the plane to Russia for this summer’s <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> while Nick Pope at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> has also worked himself into contention. </p>
<aside id="XLhNgN"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton at Stoke: Match Preview","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17131234/stoke-city-everton-match-preview-injury-updates-gueye-walcott-klaassen"},{"title":"Everton at Stoke City: Projected XI","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17120642/everton-starting-lineup-stoke-city-leaked-projected-eleven-injury-report-latest-news"}]}'></div></aside><p id="TmPNzu">Pickford’s manager at the Toffees Sam Allardyce has talked up the youngster in the lead-up to today’s clash at the bet365 Stadium. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="6nSVoO">“I think that when you talk about consistency he has been our most consistent player.</p>
<p id="HI7hQB">“At 23 and coming to as big a club as Everton - and playing to the level he has on a consistent basis - shows that age means nothing for him. He believes in what he is and I think that he grows and gets better from here and certainly benefits from the experience he has had this year by playing every game.</p>
<p id="h5dX6Z">“I don’t think he has missed a game, playing at the highest level and making some critical saves in periods when you have needed to get a result. He has been there for us.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="ivP2j1">More than once this season the goalie has shown his authority on the pitch, whether it meant giving veteran <span>Wayne Rooney</span> an earful or starting off a counter with an accurately-placed kick from the back, Pickford has not shirked his responsibility on the pitch and will likely be named the Blues’ player of the season. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="D5psIN">“He makes the odd mistake like every keeper does but they have been few and far between.</p>
<p id="zC4yrV">“I rate his chances very highly in terms of his England career. Whether that is enough to get Gareth Southgate to choose him as his No 1 only time will tell, but certainly in terms of what he has done this year compared to the people he is competing against he has played every single game and played exceptionally well.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="mISMcH">While still young, Pickford has shown a lot of maturity both last season with a <a href="https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/">Sunderland</a> side headed for the drop and this year with an Everton side that has looked all at sea defensively for long periods of the season. It’ll be interesting to see if that is enough for Southgate to name him the England number one this summer.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/17/17132680/jordan-pickford-england-starting-goalkeeper-jack-butland-joe-hart-pope-southgate-world-cup-squadCalvin2018-03-16T22:01:16+00:002018-03-16T22:01:16+00:00Can Everton solve their away blues at cold, wet Stoke?
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<img alt="Stoke City v Everton - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5NMQPGqC8o6iOKduzWOkx9k-mdc=/0x141:4222x2956/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59059525/633392148.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can the Toffees finally solve their away form blues?</p> <p id="LoNeZO">Seventh place in the Premier League could still get into Europe and despite <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s travails this season, the Blues are only six points behind <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a> and three off <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a> and could somehow still salvage it. </p>
<p id="xpJzUh">To do that though <span>Sam Allardyce</span> is going to have to get his side to start picking up some points away from Goodison Park, which appears to be a tall order considering Everton are tied second-worst in the League on the road. </p>
<p id="xDp8ah">Talk of a clear out at the Boardroom and management levels is rife as no one employed by Everton should feel secure in their positions after this shambolic season. It could start with Bill Kenwright leaving and Director of Football Steve Walsh following suit. Allardyce has been talking like he thinks he’s going to see out his 18-month contract but if he’s still around by the time the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">summer transfer window</a> opens there are sure to be riots in the blue half of Merseyside. </p>
<aside id="aPL5TT"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Allardyce: Everton ‘fearful and freezing’ when away from home","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/15/17119678/everton-poor-away-record-sam-allardyce-comments-sports-psychological-therapy-fearful-freezing-stoke"},{"title":"Everton CEO set to leave club for rugby role","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/13/17113724/everton-ceo-robert-elstone-leaves-resigns-rugby-super-league-bill-kenwright-farhad-moshiri"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="0WMhCZ">The Opposition</h3>
<p id="yO2AU6"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> are in trouble, and need a win desperately. The Potters will play four out of the top seven in the coming weeks and will need to pick up points where they can, and <span>Paul Lambert</span> will be targeting the fragile Toffees. </p>
<p id="IszcSs">In his seven games since taking over, Stoke have won only his first game in charge with four draws. They are much improved in defence, but will be sweating the fitness of star playmaker and top goalscorer <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span> who is struggling with a calf injury and hasn’t trained all week. </p>
<p id="UlmKnG">A win for the Potters will get them out of the bottom three for the moment, and they will be roared on by a home crowd that have become used to Premier League football since the 2008-09 season, and will have to fight against former manager <span>Mark Hughes</span> who has been appointed to get <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> out of a similar hole, just one point ahead of them. </p>
<aside id="tm3vbU"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Allardyce disputes Sigurdsson diagnosis, expects earlier return to Everton","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/15/17120638/gylfi-sigurdsson-knee-injury-latest-allardyce-everton-bollocking-could-return-iceland-world-cup"},{"title":"Everton will have midfield dynamo back for Stoke test","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17127298/everton-latest-news-injury-update-idrissa-gueye-gana-theo-walcott-gylfi-sigurdsson-allardyce"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="UrrJz7">Team News</h3>
<p id="BaO8ts">Allardyce confirmed that Idrissa Gueye is well again and will be in the squad for tomorrow. <span>Theo Walcott</span> left the game late in the win over Brighton & Hove Albion, with what looked like cramp but is fit and should start again. </p>
<p id="ZtbweS"><span>Leighton Baines</span> and <span>Seamus Coleman</span> seemed to have come through with no scratches in their first game together this season, and should also be in the starting lineup. </p>
<p id="yx544D">While Big Sam refuted the original 6-8 week timeline for the return of Gylfi Sigurdsson, he is likely not going to play again this season especially with Iceland’s first ever <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> campaign looming. </p>
<aside id="xGQMdz"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton will have midfield dynamo back for Stoke test","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17127298/everton-latest-news-injury-update-idrissa-gueye-gana-theo-walcott-gylfi-sigurdsson-allardyce"},{"title":"Everton at Stoke City: Projected XI","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17120642/everton-starting-lineup-stoke-city-leaked-projected-eleven-injury-report-latest-news"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="g5Dhqp">Predicted starting XI</h3>
<p id="4Nc2vc">Pickford; Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Baines; Gueye, Davies, Rooney; Walcott, Tosun, Bolasie.</p>
<h3 id="RT5U27">Last word</h3>
<p id="MbsIWC">Though it appears unlikely the Blues will get dragged back into a relegation scrap, it will be good to get another away win to go with the sole victory on the road against <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> earlier. </p>
<p id="n2BQ7H">Certainly can’t hurt to build some team chemistry in the remaining eight games and get some momentum to end a miserable season that started off with so much promise. </p>
<p id="7FL2ky"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17131234/stoke-city-everton-match-preview-injury-updates-gueye-walcott-klaassenCalvin2018-03-16T17:00:02+00:002018-03-16T17:00:02+00:00Everton at Stoke City: Writer Prediction League
<figure>
<img alt="Everton v Stoke City - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vFx1a0439M9FpmbiWk51Zrruf_k=/0x0:4225x2817/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59054449/830742170.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can the Toffees take points away from home against the Potters?</p> <p id="6FoAyi">The <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> season, and our predictions, continue rolling toward their conclusion — with both facing improved fortunes last week against Brighton and Hove Albion!</p>
<p id="ewkJ9Y">The Toffees have been much better at Goodison Park than away from home this season, which surely played a role in the 2-0 victory on Saturday — it certainly played a role in our predictions! Everton travels to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> this week though, and the away nature of that match impacted our predictions less than you might think.</p>
<p id="V1czrx">First though, let’s review last week’s predictions, which are below with correct guesses in bold.</p>
<div id="YWAMW0"><div data-anthem-component="table:950504"></div></div>
<p id="ECNYhP">Six writers predicted an Everton victory, but none foresaw a 2-0 scoreline. Likewise, no one predicted an own goal to start the scoring (go figure), but Tom did correctly predict Cenk Tosun would be the Everton man of the match.</p>
<p id="Nck5aF">Mike was one of the writers to correctly predict an Everton win, while Calvin did not, so we had another change atop the prediction league standings.</p>
<div id="UA34Hm"><div data-anthem-component="table:593558"></div></div>
<p id="3gvs83">This week, the Toffees travel to relegation-threatened Stoke City. The Potters sit in 19th place, only one point from the safe zone with eight matches still to play. </p>
<p id="YrVneB">Stoke has only one win in calendar year 2018 and has conceded 56 goals in Premier League play, second-worst in the league. The club’s defense has improved noticeably since <span>Paul Lambert</span> took over in mid-January, but it hasn’t been enough to drag the Potters to safety.</p>
<p id="sw51Iz">I suspect if this match was at Goodison Park, our writers would wholly select the Toffees to win, but with the away form being what it is, the picks are pretty evenly split.</p>
<div id="0m6Wtr"><div data-anthem-component="table:961854"></div></div>
<p id="605aZw">Five writers predicted an Everton win, three a draw, and three a Stoke City victory. Cenk Tosun is a very popular pick to open the scoring, while the man of the match voting is pretty evenly spread. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17128806/everton-stoke-city-score-predictions-preview-sam-allardyce-relegation-battle-tv-streaming-infoAdam.Braun2018-03-16T15:30:02+00:002018-03-16T15:30:02+00:00Everton at Stoke City: Projected XI
<figure>
<img alt="Everton v Stoke City - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Bs0BLYoBBKYPdD8it6-nIivTysA=/0x0:3909x2606/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59053329/830737550.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Ew, another away match.</p> <p id="U6AIp0"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> head to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> this weekend with one big problem on everyone’s minds: the absence of Gylfi Sigurdsson. </p>
<p id="oVJCnW">While it has been an up and down season for the Blues’ playmaker, he has nevertheless tied the team together on the rare occasion that <span>Sam Allardyce</span> is inclined to attack an opponent’s net rather than a boat of gravy.</p>
<p id="jyDoFe">How might he be replaced in the lineup?</p>
<h3 id="TEoM5S">Tactics and Formation</h3>
<p id="TusAv9">There are two competing factors at play when considering Everton’s lineup for this match. </p>
<p id="Q4Sfb4">On the one hand, Sam Allardyce has been hesitant to make significant changes to his team after a victory. This has been good at times and bad at others, but it’s been a pattern that has at least helped us make sense of the tactical dinosaur’s thought process.</p>
<p id="DLMY2k">On the other hand, Gylfi Sigurdsson is out this weekend, and likely for the rest of the season. He’s been an integral part of the team this season — despite being largely misused by three different managers. So, Big Sam has a job on his hands figuring out how to replace him.</p>
<p id="G9GBK2">Allardyce is faced with a choice the. Keep the changes to a minimum despite Sigurdsson’s injury, and hope that a similar group of players can work together to replace the Icelander’s contributions — or make more substantial changes to give his team a different look in the post-Gylfi era.</p>
<p id="u12Oz9">We think he goes for the former.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZZ4MB8Rn2ZTHWBu9l4ogZ_Trggw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10425475/lineup__66_.png">
</figure>
<h3 id="2M9v2r">Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)</h3>
<h4 id="kWvk4Z">
<span><strong>Jordan Pickford </strong></span><strong>- 10/10</strong>
</h4>
<h4 id="va2e18">
<span><strong>Seamus Coleman</strong></span><strong> </strong><strong>- 10/10</strong>
</h4>
<p id="S1sgY9">The Irish right-back appears to be at full health at this stage, and with a week off between matches, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t start again.</p>
<h4 id="Bj7Qwl"><strong>Michael Keane - 9/10</strong></h4>
<h4 id="AL4apu">
<span><strong>Phil Jagielka</strong></span><strong> </strong><strong>- 9/10</strong>
</h4>
<p id="i0pMjf">Saturday’s victory over Brighton included Everton’s first clean sheet of calendar year 2018. Yes, it was at home, and yes, it was against Brighton, but that’s still a substantial step in the right direction. It’s hard to see any reason for the Toffees to change the center-back pairing after a rare defensive success.</p>
<h4 id="gjk9gb">
<span><strong>Leighton Baines</strong></span><strong> - 9/10</strong>
</h4>
<p id="jFQFKT">Like Coleman, Baines looked back to his old self last weekend, had a week of rest, and has two weeks off before the next match. He’s returned from injury a little more recently than Coleman, but he still should, in all likelihood, start.</p>
<h4 id="pFx8LJ"><strong>Tom Davies - 8/10</strong></h4>
<h4 id="txV0oS">
<strong>Idrissa Gueye -</strong><strong> 8/10</strong>
</h4>
<h4 id="w58VqW">
<span><strong>Wayne Rooney</strong></span><strong> - 8/10</strong>
</h4>
<p id="MZqPny">The injury to Gylfi Sigurdsson will force a change to the Everton midfield at a frustrating time, given that Big Sam seemed to have <em>finally </em>committed himself to playing the Icelander in the center of the pitch. In all likelihood, that will mean a move up the pitch from Wayne Rooney, with Davies keeping his place and Gueye returning from injury.</p>
<p id="gGmjPW">Allardyce has tended to go for as little change as possible after victories, and this setup would represent that. Although, as we pointed out earlier this week, <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/12/17108982/gylfi-sigurdsson-injury-knee-replacement-substitute-davy-klaassen-yannick-bolasie-sam-allardyce">there are other players in desperate need of proving themselves with Sigurdsson out.</a></p>
<h4 id="KiSW0w"><strong>Yannick Bolasie - 8/10</strong></h4>
<p id="jinRmN">Bolasie, indirectly, is another player who can prove himself with Sigurdsson out. Gylfi, for better or worse, occupied the left wing for much of this season, limiting Yala’s opportunities even after his return from injury.</p>
<p id="JJZSUl">That’s not going to be a problem the rest of this season, and Bolasie is the obvious candidate to play that position for now — and he hopes to prove that will continue to be the case in the future.</p>
<h4 id="4rCQXZ">
<span><strong>Theo Walcott</strong></span><strong> -</strong><strong> 10/10</strong>
</h4>
<h4 id="SVUTGl">
<strong>Cenk Tosun</strong><strong> </strong><strong>- 10/10</strong>
</h4>
<p id="IlKdZw">Can’t argue with the big man’s form, can we?</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Everton v Stoke City - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5Dtno_a2VLYhkSPQUs-yj5VubyU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10425121/830743568.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h3 id="QsPERM">Bench</h3>
<ul>
<li id="WRM7JW"><span><strong>Joel Robles</strong></span></li>
<li id="diCYMw"><strong>Cuco Martina</strong></li>
<li id="d3kzmn"><strong>Ramiro Funes Mori</strong></li>
<li id="yBqax6">
<strong>Davy Klaassen</strong><strong> </strong>- The Dutch midfielder may get his chance with Sigurdsson out too, but Big Sam hasn’t exactly pushed the envelope when it comes to integrating new players. A win this weekend would put Everton at the mystical 40-point safety mark — so maybe after hitting that landmark, Klaassen will get more chances. We aren’t holding our breath. </li>
<li id="qRWwVX"><strong>Beni Baningime</strong></li>
<li id="Zstsoz"><strong>Dominic Calvert-Lewin</strong></li>
<li id="bTOSIc"><strong>Oumar Niasse</strong></li>
</ul>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="1h3kwr">
<p id="3ooO5K">Would you rather see Klaassen come in as a direct replacement for Gylfi? Perhaps - gasp - Nikola Vlasic? Let us know in the comments. </p>
<p id="AoqpZG"></p>
<p id="KFTBal"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/3/16/17120642/everton-starting-lineup-stoke-city-leaked-projected-eleven-injury-report-latest-newsevertonchrisAdam.Braun