Everton vs Swansea City. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance37,580.
Monday 18 December 2017 18:52, UK
Yannick Bolasie could return to action when Everton host Swansea at Goodison Park on Monday Night Football.
The Toffees winger has been out of action for just over a year due to a knee injury, but boss Sam Allardyce indicated he could be involved against the Swans after appearing for the club's U23s this week.
"Yannick Bolaise is training and will probably play some part for the U23s tonight (Thursday), so we'll see what happens with that," he said.
"We'll have a discussion with the whole team on whether that makes him available on Monday night against Swansea."
Everton were in the midst of relegation worries following a terrible start to the season but since Allardyce's arrival, the team have risen to 10th in the Premier League table.
Swansea will be keen to get back to winning ways after their heavy defeat to Manchester City, but will be hopeful of replicating their 2-1 win at Goodison in January 2016 - their only victory in their last 14 away trips to Everton.
James McCarthy (hamstring) and Leighton Baines (calf) remain unavailable for Everton, along with Ross Barkley (hamstring), Ramiro Funes Mori (knee) and Seamus Coleman (broken leg).
Swansea striker Wilfried Bony will be fit for the trip to Goodison Park despite coming off with muscle tightness in the closing stages of Wednesday's 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
The Ivorian has shown no after-effects of that since the City game and, with Wayne Routledge fit again, Swansea are at full strength apart from the continued absence of Kyle Bartley (knee ligaments).
Everton won five of their first six Premier League meetings with Swansea (D1), but have since failed to win any of their six matches against them (D4 L2).
Swansea City have attempted just 33 shots on target in their 17 Premier League games this season; 13 fewer than any other side in the competition.
Everton have collected 10 points in their last four Premier League games - one more than they managed in their previous 12 combined (9).
Paul Clement averaged 1.53 points per game in the Premier League last season as Swansea manager (29 points in 19 games) - this season, that average is less than half (0.71 per game).
Swansea have lost 18 Premier League away games since the start of last season; more than any other club.
Swansea City have scored the same number of Premier League goals this season as Wayne Rooney on his own (9).
Wayne Rooney has scored five Premier League goals in eight games at Goodison Park this season; the same tally he scored in 27 home games for Manchester United in 2016-17 and 2015-16 combined.
Sam Allardyce is the man. As soon as he got the job you could have scribbled them out for relegation. He is unbelievable. I can't talk highly enough of what he does when he goes to places.
I was pleased for Paul Clement getting that result last weekend, which he needed, and they could go here and get a draw because they can frustrate teams. At Arsenal they were really unlucky not to lead 2-0 at half-time and they drew at Tottenham. But the way things are going now Everton are rolling.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
