West Bromwich Albion will to continue their winning start  on Saturday as Everton roll up to The Hawthorns in the Premier League

The Baggies opened their account for the 2016/17 campaign with a 1-0 away win versus Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend. A Salomon Rondon header was enough to take the spoils back to the West Midlands.

The Toffees themselves were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend. Ronald Koeman's men will be looking to build on a strong start at Goodison Park, as they make their first away trip of the season.

Baggies make Hawthorns bow

In their first home game of the season, Tony Pulis will be looking to make it six points out of six after two games.  

Rondon's goal was enough to take the spoils in South London last weekend (photo:google)
Rondon's goal was enough to take the spoils in South London last weekend (photo:google)

Both sides kicked off their 2016/17 campaign in contrasting styles last weekend. West Brom ground out a typically resolute 1-0 away win versus The Eagles in South London, courtesy of Venezuelan Rondon's headed winner. Everton were pegged back by an Erik Lamela goal that cancelled out Ross Barkley's fifth minute opener.

West Brom's win once again confounded pre-season fears that Pulis' men may struggle this term. Proving they have the tools to pick up away points, the regular defensive unit of Craig Dawson, Jonas Olsson, Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans - who continues to be linked with a shock move to Arsenal - that kept 10 clean sheets last season, once again took away all three points.

Koeman still molding Toffees

In Koeman's first Premier League game as Toffees' boss, the Dutchman saw his side take the early ascendency in entertaining The Lily Whites.

As Romelu Lukaku's future on Merseyside continues to be shrouded in doubt, the Belgian striker was absent last weekend, which saw Gerard Deulofeu as the most advanced man as the invisible number 9.

With Everton lacking a creative influence last time out however, might we see Deulofeu revert to his more accustomed right-wing role? New signing Idrissa Gueye slotted into the Dutchman's starting XI with aplomb next to James McCarthy in midfield and is likely to continue this weekend.

Merseysiders lead top-flight record 

The Baggies won out last time they met in February, when it was again a lone strike from Rondon that settled matters at Goodison.

West Brom and Everton have met 20 times in the Premier League. The Merseysiders head the record, having won 10 times, with West Brom winning on six occasions. There have been four draws in top-flight history. 

a Lukaku brace saw Everton come from behind to win 3-2 last September (photo:google)
a Lukaku brace saw Everton come from behind to win 3-2 last September (photo:google)

In the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, it was again the away side that sneak a 3-2 victory in a Hawthorns howitzer. A brace from former Baggies loanee Lukaku saw Roberto Martinez' side come from two-nil down to take all three points. 

Team News

Tony Pulis has an almost full squad to choose from. Only Chris Brunt is a continued absence as the Northern Irishman makes his may back from an ACL injury.

For Everton, Seamus Coleman has been ruled out until mid-September with an ankle injury, so Mason Holgate could continue in his stead.

Lukaku is still a doubt for the trip to The Hawthorns with a foot injury.

The quartet of Matthew Pennington, Tyias Browning, Muhamed Besic and Callum Connolly are all set to miss out.

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About the author
Neil Leverett
33 year old writer living in London. Arsenal fan but all rounder, specializing in sporting analysis, in particular football.