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This season has decidedly not gone to plan so far for either Everton or Arsenal, and as the two sides meet at Goodison Park on Sunday, the match will almost be more about one team trying to find some way to get their footing under them and get moving in the right direction than it will be about this specific game.
Arsenal sit in seventh place in the Premier League despite their aims at getting back in the title hunt, while Everton rest in 16th place even though they spent all summer spending money hand over fist trying to put together a team capable of making a top-four push. Both teams have been dealing with various injuries and disappointments this season, and it’s telling that even with the wide gap in their standings, they’re only five points apart — it’s been a rough year for both teams.
That makes this match a big test for both teams and a potential turning point for one of them — a big win and strong showing here could be just the thing Arsenal or Everton need to actually get things rolling in the right direction for a sustained spell. Hopefully one of these teams can seize the opportunity and turn things around, because both fanbases are getting restless.
Both teams are dealing with several difficult injuries right now. Arsenal are without Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers, Santi Cazorla, David Ospina, and Danny Welbeck, while Everton are missing Aaron Lennon, Ross Barkley, Ramiro Funes Mori, Seamus Coleman, and Yannick Bolasie. That’s a fair amount of defensive and midfield depth absent for both teams, which could have a decided impact on how it flows.
Match info, plus how to watch on TV and stream
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 8:30 a.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. local
Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live, NBCSports.com (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.)
Make friends: Check out Royal Blue Mersey for more Everton coverage, and head over to The Short Fuse for Arsenal coverage.
Listings for more countries can be found at LiveSoccerTV.