Premier League Football: Everton vs Stoke

Everton face Stoke at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon, on the opening weekend of the 2017/18 Premier League season.

The Toffees come into this match in good form, having beaten Ruzomberok over two legs to progress in the Europa League.

Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal on the night (81), with just nine minutes remaining.

The young forward slotted home when put clean through on goal by Davy Klaassen, an excellent result.

They won the first leg against the Slovakian side 1-0 as well, with Leighton Baines (65) scoring the only goal of that game.

It means that Everton progress to the next round of the Europa League, after a confident 2-0 win on aggregate.

It has been a productive off season for Everton, with manager Ronald Koeman recruiting heavily.

He has brought in the likes of Wayne Rooney, Davy Klassen, Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane to bolster his squad.

Romelu Lukaku departed in a big money move, with United eventually due to pay £90 million for the towering Belgian.

It will be a huge season for Everton, with Ronald Koeman expected to deliver a top four finish.

Everton come into this match as favourites, with the Toffee's pedigree informing the odds.

Ronald Koeman's will be looking to win this opening fixture, despite facing a tough Stoke side.

Everton will be looking to make it four games unbeaten against the Potters.

The Potters come into this match on the back of a 4-2 defeat against St Pauli, a tough result for Mark Hughes' side.

St Pauli took the lead in the 11th minute through Sami Allagui, with a right footed shot into the bottom corner.

Maurice Litka doubled the hosts advantage just ten minutes later (21), leaving Stoke with a mountain to climb.

Joselu scored the first of two goals on the night (41), to give Stoke a route back into the match.

But Kyoung-Rok Choi (59) ended any faint hopes of a Stoke comeback with St Pauli's third goal.

Joselu scored his second of the night to make it 3-2 (67), before Enver Cenk Sahin converted a penalty to make it 4-2 to St Pauli.

Improvements Needed

Stoke had a poor campaign by their standards last season, finishing in 13th place.

It was a season that saw them regress both in the league and in the cup competitions, with early exits all round.

Given the calibre of players Stoke now possess, they will be expected a far greater finish than last season.

Mark Hughes will also be targeting an extended run in the domestic cups, having been knocked out early of the EFL and FA Cups.

Mark Hughes's side come into this match as underdogs, with last season informing the bookies.

This will be a tough match for Stoke, with Everton and Koeman spending heavily in the transfer market.

Stoke will be looking for a fourth win in seven matches against Everton.

Tip 1 – Rooney to score first @ 9/2

Tip 2 – Everton to win 2-1 @ 14/1