Everton welcome Fulham to Goodison Park tomorrow for the opening fixture of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Indeed, with a few injuries and other key players doubtful for the 3pm kick-off, The Evening Standard has now predicted what the Fulham starting XI will look like.
Brazilian Andreas Pereira is a doubt, though Silva confirmed that they will ‘assess’ the fitness of the 27-year-old ahead of the game.
However, Joao Palhinha will definitely be absent for the Cottagers after suffering a shoulder injury during a pre-season friendly with Brentford last month.
Predicting a 4-2-3-1 formation, The Evening Standard suggests that Marco Silva’s side will start tomorrow’s game with: Leno, Tete, Ream, Diop, Robinson, Reed, Lukic, Wilson, Pereira, Willian, Mitrovic
Serbian forward Alexsander Mitrovic has been the subject of insistent transfer speculation in recent weeks, with a proposed move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on the cards, though the London club rejected a £25.5m bid last month.
However, Silva insists that the striker is ‘ready to play’ so he will likely start upfront for the visitors despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Fulham are reportedly interested in Everton star Gray
Fulham have been linked with a summer move for Everton attacker Demarai Gray, though it is now reported that Sean Dyche is unwilling to let the Jamaican international leave without securing his replacement.
The Toffees have just secured the signing of Portuguese talent Youseff Chermiti from Sporting CP, so perhaps there will be some movement on the Gray departure soon.
Not allowing him to move to Craven Cottage ahead of our fixture with them is also a wise move, as you can be sure he would have opened his goalscoring account for Fulham at Goodison Park.
Fulham beat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park last season, though pundits Chris Sutton (BBC Sport) and Paul Merson (Sportskeeda) both predict a 1-1 draw this time around.