One of five all-Premier League ties in the FA Cup fourth round takes centre stage at Goodison Park on Saturday as Everton play host to Luton Town.
The two teams, who are separated by just one point and one place in the top-flight table, required replays to progress from their FA Cup third-round ties, with the Toffees edging past Crystal Palace and the Hatters coming out on top against League One side Bolton Wanderers.
Match preview
After losing each of their final four fixtures of 2023 to end the year on a whimper, Everton have since made an unbeaten start to 2024 and are yet to concede a goal, as they followed up back-to-back goalless draws with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively with a slender 1-0 success over the Eagles just over a week ago.
A fabulous first-half free kick from Andre Gomes helped the Toffees end their six-game winless run in all competitions as well as avoid successive FA Cup third-round eliminations.
Amid off-field uncertainty with Everton facing fresh Premier League charges for alleged breaches of financial rules, Sean Dyche expressed both relief and delight for the way that his players battled to victory against Palace following a "tough" period for all Evertonians.
The Toffees will have had 10 days to rest and prepare for their latest contest at home to Luton, and they should be confident of success on Saturday as they have won seven of their last eight FA Cup fourth-round ties, while they have also won 11 of their last 14 home matches in the competition.
Furthermore, Everton have advanced from each of their last three FA Cup ties against Luton, most recently winning 1-0 in a quarter-final replay back in 1986 courtesy of a strike from Gary Lineker, but the Merseysiders have never progressed from successive ties against fellow Premier League opposition since 2016.
Like Everton, Luton have also made an unbeaten start to the New Year, with back-to-back draws against Bolton and Burnley in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively followed by a 2-1 away victory over the Trotters a week last Tuesday.
After falling behind in the 11th minute, Luton restored parity just four minutes later through Tahith Chong, before Chiedozie Ogbene netted what proved to be the match-winner just before the hour mark to help the Hatters progress from the third round for the fourth year in a row.
Rob Edwards admitted that his side 'were not at their best' in the replay win at Bolton and was left "frustrated" with certain aspects of their performance. Nevertheless, coming from behind to beat an in-form Trotters side and securing their place in the fourth round pleased the Luton boss.
Luton travel to Goodison Park having put together a three-game unbeaten run on the road, scoring six goals in the process, while they have already beaten Everton on Merseyside this season – securing a 2-1 Premier League victory in September last year thanks to goals from Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris.
However, Luton have had mixed fortunes in the FA Cup fourth round, having alternated between elimination and progression in each of the last five years – losing to League Two outfit Grimsby Town at this stage last season – while they have also won just one of their last 10 FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition.
Team News
Everton duo Seamus Coleman (hamstring) and Ashley Young (knock) are both believed to be closing in on a return from injury, but Saturday's game may come too soon for the pair, while Dyche has confirmed that Gomes is ruled out with a calf problem picked up after scoring in the win over Palace.
Abdoulaye Doucoure – who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia – and Dele Alli both remain sidelined with respective hamstring and groin problems, the latter of whom requires surgery, while Idrissa Gueye is away with Senegal on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Joao Virginia should continue between the sticks ahead of Jordan Pickford, while James Tarkowski and Jarrad Brathwaite could both be preferred again at centre-back instead of Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey, as Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko line up at full-back.
Andre Onana and James Garner are set to link arms in midfield, with Lewis Dobbin potentially given a start behind either Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Beto up front, while Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil could provide support in attack from the flanks.
As for Luton, Tom Lockyer (heart), Marvelous Nakamba (knee) and Mads Andersen (calf) all remain unavailable for selection, while Issa Kabore is away with Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations.
With Ryan Giles allegedly in talks over a move to Hull City, Alfie Doughty and Chiedozie Ogbene could continue as wing-backs, while Amari'i Bell is in contention to take the place of Reece Burke at centre-back.
Arsenal loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga was left out of the matchday squad for the replay with Bolton, but he could return this weekend, while Elijah Adebayo, Jacob Brown and former Toffees winger Andros Townsend – who all began on the bench last time out – will be pushing to start in attack.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Virginia; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Onana, Garner, McNeil; Dobbin; Calvert-Lewin
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Krul; Mengi, Osho, Bell; Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Ruddock, Doughty; Barkley, Chong; Adebayo
We say: Everton 2-1 Luton Town
Although Everton and Luton were forced to battle through replays in the previous round, both sides are well-rested for Saturday's clash and will fancy their chances of coming out on top in an intriguing contest at Goodison Park.
Luton have already celebrated success on the blue side of Merseyside this term, but with Premier League survival ambitions placed to one side, we believe that a fired-up Everton side seeking revenge will find a way to book their place in the fifth round without needing another dreaded replay.
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