TEAM NEWS
Loanee Kurt Zouma returns after being ineligible against parent club Chelsea.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes and Ademola Lookman are all available for Everton despite being ruled out of international duty because of injuries.
Cardiff captain Sean Morrison was forced off against Brighton because of a broken nose but has been passed fit.
Harry Arter returns after a ban and Jazz Richards may be available after a hamstring problem, but a calf injury is likely to sideline Kenneth Zohore.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@Guymowbray: These were two happy camps going into the international break, with both bosses talking of how their teams were improving.
Everton must keep up the momentum that has been built with four wins and just one defeat from their last six Premier League games, and the only way to do that is with another victory.
Winning at home is even more important in the midst of a run of six away fixtures that sees them go to five of the big six.
Having already visited three themselves, it’s little wonder that Cardiff have only got one away point so far. Another one here would feel like a win.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Everton manager Marco Silva: “We are happy with our momentum but there are many things to improve.
“The fans are supporting us from the first minute until the end because they understand what we are doing.
“The atmosphere in our stadium is different now because we are working together.”
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock: “I think we can do better than we have done. We’ve got to eliminate those mistakes and continue to put teams under pressure.
“We’ve got a run now where we’re playing teams who are not in the top six, not beyond us.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Everton boss Marco Silva is getting very close to working out what his best team is, and he has good options from the bench too. They have got the makings of a good side.
They slipped up a couple of times at home earlier this season – losing to West Ham and drawing with Huddersfield – but, otherwise, they have beaten everyone you would expect them to, and Cardiff definitely fall into that category.
Prediction: 2-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- It is 92 years since Cardiff’s last win away to Everton, which was a top-flight game on 11 December 1926. Hughie Ferguson scored the only goal.
- The Bluebirds have not won a league game against the Merseysiders since 1956, drawing four and losing three of the subsequent seven meetings.
Everton
- Everton have lost just one of their past nine Premier League home games (W5, D3).
- They have won their last three top-flight matches at Goodison Park, scoring eight times and conceding just once.
- The Toffees conceded 11 times in their first six league games under Marco Silva, but have only shipped four in their subsequent six outings.
- Everton are unbeaten in their last 13 home league games against newly-promoted sides, winning 11 of those matches, including the last nine.
- They have scored in 13 of their 14 most recent league fixtures at Goodison Park, with the exception a goalless draw against Liverpool in April.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson has been directly involved in 14 Premier League goals since joining the club (nine goals and five assists), more than any other Everton player.
Cardiff City
- The Bluebirds can claim consecutive top-flight wins for the first time since April 1962.
- Cardiff’s total of two away league goals is fewer than any other side in the top four tiers of English football.
- Cardiff and Arsenal are the only two teams yet to lead a Premier League game at half-time this season.
- The Bluebirds are one short of conceding 100 Premier League goals.
- Neil Warnock’s side have attempted just 3,372 passes in their 12 games so far – more than 400 fewer than any other team in the top flight.
- Warnock has won his last three games against Everton in all competitions, including victories at Goodison Park with QPR in 2011 and Crystal Palace in 2014.
