Match: Everton v Lyon
Date: Thursday, October 19
Time: 3:05 AM Friday (SGT)/ 12:35 PM Thursday (IST)/ 8:05 PM Thursday (BST)
Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool
Live Stream: Starhub Go app (Singapore)/ Bt Sport App (UK)
TV Info: Eurosport (Singapore)/ Sony Six (India)/ BT Sport (UK)
Overview
Everton host Olympique Lyonnais at Goodison Park on Thursday, needing to kick-start their Europa League campaign before they find themselves on the brink of crashing out of the group stage.
Ronald Koeman's side sit bottom of Group E, without a win following a defeat away to Atalanta and a draw at home with Apollon Limassol. And pressure is on Koeman and his team to deliver a win that could give the Blues a chance at keeping qualification from the group stage a possibility.
The Dutch manager has urged Everton to focus on getting three points in their Europa League match with Lyon as they look to move off the bottom of Group E. The Premier League side have picked up just one point in the competition so far - drawing 2-2 with Apollon Limassol last time out - and losing their opening fixture against Atalanta.
Bruno Génésio's team are coming off a draw against Atalanta in their previous group game and similarly to the Blues, they were denied victory over Limassol after a dramatic late goal. They sit second in Group E on two points and the French side could jump above group leaders Atalanta with a win.
The French side reached the semi-finals of the competition last season, where they lost to eventual runners-up Ajax. However, they have failed to win in the competition so far this campaign, but have lost just once in Ligue 1 and beat domestic champions Monaco 3-2 on Friday.
Team news
Koeman confirmed Thursday's clash will come too soon for James McCarthy, though the midfielder could return for Everton's clash with Arsenal on Sunday. The Republic of Ireland international has been out with a knee injury since March, but did play the first half of an Everton U23s match earlier this week.
Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon, Yannick Bolasie and Ross Barkley all remain sidelined along with Oumar Niasse, who is ineligible, while Jonjoe Kenny is an injury doubt.
Lyon are expected to have a fully fit squad for the trip to Goodison Park, with former Manchester United midfielder Memphis Depay likely to feature along with talented forward and captain Nabil Fekir.
Génésio has only got the injury of Pape Cheikh to contend with – his sprained ankle putting him out of contention for the last 6 games.
Beyond that, though, he has the full reign of his squad and will likely set his team up to sit deep and try to catch Everton on the break, particularly utilising the pace of Adama Traore on the right-hand side.
Head to Head
This will be the first competitive meeting between Everton and Lyon.
The Toffees have met French opposition on two previous occasions on the European stage - beating Lille in the Europa League 3-0 at Goodison Park in November 2014, while drawing their away match 0-0 in October 2014.
The BLues have lost two of their last 5 home games, and are yet to win a Europa League game this season.
Lyon have not won any of their last four away matches, also having lost five of their last seven Europa League away games.
In the league this season, Lyon have scored quadruple the amount the Blues have, scoring 20 to Everton's 5 (Lyon have played one more game, though).
Predicted line-ups
Everton: Pickford, Martina, Jagielka, Keane, Baines, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Davies, Sigurdsson, Vlasic and Rooney.
Lyon: Lopes, Tete, Yanga-Mbiwa, Marcelo, Mendy, Tousart, Ferri, Fekir, Depay, Traore and Diaz.
