Key events
Gudmundsson has a shot from the edge of the area, but skews it wide. Everton win a corner which descends into a low-intensity scramble before Dubravka grabs the ball.
“We should go back to the OG playoffs,” says Stefan Webb. “Third from bottom from the Premier League competes with those in 3rd, 4th and 5th from league below. My first away game was at nine years old seeing Gillingham (and the legendary Tony Cascarino) relegate Sunderland to the third tier (surrounded by Newcastle fans in the away end).”
We’re initially focusing on Leeds v Sunderland, where Gudmundsson has just made a lung-busting run forward, but ran out of room to get a cross in.
Will Unwin reports that it’s royal blue v light blue at Everton, with Burnley in their away kit. Brentford are in an even paler shade of blue, with Sunderland in all-black in a two-tone affair at Elland Road.
Kick off
Here we go, then, at Elland Road, the Hill Dickinson and the Vitality Stadium.
Wolves v Liverpool: team news
Wolves (3-5-2): Jose Sá (c); Doherty, Santiago Bueno, Krejci’ Tchatchoua, Angel Gomes, João Gomes, André, Wolfe; Mané, Armstrong.
Subs: Johnstone, Hugo Bueno, Hwang, Arokodare, Mosquera, Pedro Lima, Rodrigo Gomes, Toti Gomes, Bellegarde.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konaté, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitiké.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha.
Referee: Thomas Bramall. VAR: Timothy Wood.
Arne Slot is chatting to the TNT Sports team at Molineux, where his side kick off at 8.15pm (GMT). He’s pleased with their improvement on set-pieces, but added that “we hardly score from open play 1772566856, that’s something we need to improve.” Jeremie Frimpong is back in the team tonight, replacing Joe Gomez at right-back.
“As an Everton fan, I’m usually writing in to highlight the positives that are sometimes overlooked,” says Matt Burtz. “This time around it’s to note that Everton are joint second on away points with 24, behind only Arsenal. Unfortunately that means they only have 16 points at home, which is 14th in that table. Their remaining home games are Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Sunderland, so a win tonight would be nice just so the home fans can see one.” It started positively enough at least, Matt.
Régis Le Bris says Robin Roefs hurt his hamstring while making a save at Bournemouth, and “hopefully won’t be out too long.” As for Granit Xhaka, “three days was a bit short to go again, so he’ll come on the pitch later.” Le Bris adds: “We have to show the blueprint for Sunderland – we were close against Bournemouth.”
After John’s mention of the playoffs, here’s an interesting bit of news: EFL clubs will reportedly vote on Thursday on whether to extend the Championship playoffs from four to six teams for next season. That would mean the teams finishing third to eighth would contest the playoffs, with the top two automatically promoted.
Thoughts? It seems like trying to fix something that isn’t broken, to me at least. The teams currently 7th and 8th in the second tier are Southampton and Derby, while all the sides from Norwich (in 17th) upwards are within six points of the Rams.
Some pre-game chat from David Moyes: “We’ve moved on from the weekend now, we want to get back-to-back wins … it’s been difficult for a lot of teams this year. We’d like to turn our performances here into wins, [but] it doesn’t really matter where you win, home or away.” He sticks with the same Everton XI that won at Newcastle.
John Brewin
Here at the Vitality, the talk is of how Bournemouth have not beaten Brentford in the regular season since August 2014. (The teams played out a two-legged Championship play-off tie in 2021 where Bournemouth won the first leg 1-0, but lost the second.) Why might that be? When it comes to high-pressing aggression, perhaps Brentford have that little bit more muscle. The Bees are the only team in the Premier League that the Cherries have never beaten. Keith Andrews has a new contract until 2032, Andoni Iraola has a deal until this June.
A couple of changes for Bournemouth from their stormy draw with Sunderland, while Brentford make three from that VAR-assisted minor classic at Burnley, one of which is the return of new father Caoimhin Kelleher. Brentford can climb over Chelsea into sixth should they win, while Bournemouth look to move above Fulham and perhaps Everton and into eighth.
It’s finished Ukraine 1-6 England in the Lionesses’ opening World Cup qualifier.
There’s another late midweek kick-off for Everton fans to navigate tonight. Andy Hunter reports on teething problems at their new home …
Sunderland are without keeper Robin Roefs, who misses his first Premier League game this season due to an injury. Melker Ellborg makes his debut in goal, while Granit Xhaka is on the bench after starting against Bournemouth. For Leeds, James Justin and Joe Rodon are both fit to start in defence after picking up knocks in Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City.
Will Unwin
Pre-game thoughts from our man at Everton-Burnley …
If ever there was a game that could get a team’s home form back on track, a visit from Burnley would be high on the list. The Clarets are heading back to the Championship, while Everton are hoping to get into Europe but have not won on home soil in the Premier League since 6 December. They really need a victory here to boost their ambitions to be playing continental football next season.
Dwight McNeil shone in the victory at Newcastle and keeps his place in the starting lineup here against his former club. David Moyes was happy to sell him in January but the shambles at Crystal Palace meant he stayed at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. His endeavour and work rate have never been in question but rarely has he put a run of goals and assists together while in blue. It will be interesting to see if he can build on what he showed at St James’ Park.
Everton v Burnley teams
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski (c), Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto.
Subs: Travers, Patterson, Keane, Barry, George, Dibling, Rohl, Iroegbunam, Armstrong.
Burnley (3-4-2-1): Dubravka; Humphreys, Worrall, Estève; Walker (c), Florentino, Ugochukwu, Lucas Pires; Mejbri, Anthony; Foster.
Subs: Weiss, Hartman, Bruun Larsen, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Ward-Prowse, Laurent, Barnes, McMahon-Brown.
Referee: Tim Robinson. VAR: Neil Davies.
Bournemouth v Brentford teams
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Rayan, Christie (c), Tavernier; Evanilson.
Subs: Mandas, Brooks, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Junior Kroupi, Unal, Toth, Milosavljevic.
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins (c), van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Jensen; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Yarmolyuk, Ajer, Lewis-Potter, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield.
Referee: Craig Pawson. VAR: Darren England.
Leeds v Sunderland teams
Leeds (3-4-2-1): Darlow; Rodon, Struijk, Justin; Bogle, Gruev, Ampadu (c), Gudmundsson; Stach, Aaronson; Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Lucas Perri, James, Longstaff, Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto.
Sunderland (3-4-2-1): Ellborg; O’Nien (c), Ballard, Alderete; Geertruida, Diarra, Sadiki, Hume; Angulo, Le Fée; Mayenda.
Subs: Moore, Talbi, Rigg, Isidor, Traoré, Aleksic, Xhaka, Harrison Jones, Jenson Jones.
Referee: Stuart Attwell. VAR: Paul Tierney.
Live football is currently happening in Turkey, where England have just taken the lead against Ukraine through Alessia Russo. Follow that Women’s World Cup qualifier here:
Tuesday’s fixtures
Premier League
Bournemouth v Brentford (7.30pm, all times GMT)
Everton v Burnley (7.30pm)
Leeds v Sunderland (7.30pm)
Wolves v Liverpool (8.15pm)
FA Cup fourth round
Port Vale v Bristol City (7.45pm)
Championship
Ipswich v Hull (7.45pm)
Scottish Premiership
Dundee United v St Mirren (7.45pm)
Preamble
Tonight, a trio of northern powerhouses are looking to secure a Big Three Points in fixtures they are odds-on to win. Leeds are aiming to scramble closer to safety with victory over Sunderland, who have won two of 14 on the road this season. Heading along the M62, Everton fans will see Burnley’s visit as the perfect chance for the team to improve their patchy form at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
In the later game, Liverpool head to Molineux, where victory is a must and offers the chance for Arne Slot’s side to go third. Of course, we can’t overlook the fact that rock-bottom Wolves have beaten Villa and drawn with Arsenal in their last two home games; nor should we ignore Burnley collecting four points from their last two away trips, or Sunderland picking up a point at the Vitality last time out.
Speaking of which, if anyone would care to try and predict the outcome of Bournemouth (six wins, six draws at home) v Brentford (six wins, six defeats away from home), then be my guest. Team news to follow shortly.
