West Ham United are preparing to take on Everton in a game that could be make or break for Graham Potter’s time in East London.
The Hammers have lost four of their five Premier League games and will be desperate for a result against the high-flying Toffees on Monday.
Undeniably, there is a lot of doom and gloom surrounding the club at the moment, but there are also a few reasons to be optimistic ahead of this tie, and in this article, we run through a few.
Potter’s stellar record vs David Moyes
If there’s one thread of encouragement for West Ham heading into Monday’s crunch tie, it’s Potter’s track record against Everton boss David Moyes.
In eight meetings with the Scot, Potter has never been beaten.
The head-to-head reads two wins and six draws, a remarkable level of consistency against one of the Premier League’s most experienced managers.
That history won’t go unnoticed in the Hammers’ camp, with players well aware that their coach seems to have Moyes’ number. That psychological edge may prove crucial.
Away record points to West Ham
While the overall results have been disappointing, West Ham’s form on the road has offered rare moments of brightness.
The Hammers have won three of their last four away fixtures in the Premier League, including the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, which remains the only top-flight victory of the campaign.
Potter’s men have shown they can impose themselves away from the tension of the London Stadium. A visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium could play into their strengths.
Wilson’s record vs Everton
Another potential game-changer is Callum Wilson’s extraordinary scoring record against Everton.
The striker has bagged eight goals in his last seven appearances against the Toffees, all of them coming in the form of braces.
Across his Premier League career, Wilson has only scored more against West Ham (12) than he has against Everton.
That kind of personal history brings confidence, and it may well force Potter’s hand to pick him over Niclas Fullkrug.
If Wilson starts, Everton know they’ll be facing one of their most persistent tormentors.
Stats from Opta and Transfermarkt