After the recent 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa the blues are up against Championship opposition as they face QPR at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup.
Rafa Benitez has a tough task on his hands at the moment, with Everton’s recent injury troubles it leaves the Everton squad thin on options and very thin on squad depth. Jordan Pickford, Seamus Coleman, Fabian Delph, Jean Philippe-Gbamin, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison are all out and unavailable with most players likely to next be back in a match day squad in weeks rather than days.
James Rodriguez is also not available for the blues in their cup game today. Benitez told the media after the defeat to Aston Villa that James himself said he wasn’t fit enough to play in the 3-0 loss at Villa Park. Only 48 hours later and it seems that we have seen the last of James in an Everton after the Colombian was spotted at Manchester Airport and now it all seems more than certain he will end up signing for a club out in Qatar. What a waste.
That being said Everton will be up against a current 8th placed Championship side in QPR that we haven’t faced since March of 2015. Everton came out the winners in the fixture at Loftus Road with a 2-1 victory with Seamus Coleman getting the opening goal and on loan winger Aaron Lennon getting the winner and his first Toffees goal.
QPR are very different team from the last time we faced them, no Joey Bartons, no Rob Greens. Overall a squad with very little Premier League experience. Charlie Austin however who started against Everton for QPR in March 2015 is back playing for The Hoops after spells at Southampton and West Brom, so Austin is definitely a player we should be keeping an eye on. Defender Rob Dickie is another to watch out for who is also very highly rated and is known to play high up the pitch and go on attacking runs.
Despite injury troubles Everton SHOULD have enough experience and talent in their squad to put QPR away and to move onto the next round of the Carabao Cup. After the recent defeat to Villa and with a home match against Norwich City coming this Saturday I think it would be best to see Everton gaining some momentum again and to avoid any banana peels that could rock a decent start to the season.
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