English Premier League Week 10 Preview: Toffees Look To Continue To Ascend Up The Table

After an atrocious start to their campaign, Everton look like they've finally gotten themselves sorted out. They're playing the kind of football we've come to expect from David Moyes' teams over the years and have risen from the drop zone up to 11th place, only two points outside of a European place. Tim Cahill is among the Premier League's best once again, the center of their midfield is rock solid, and the Yak looks like he might not be dead after all.

Tony Pulis continues to outsmart himself, playing Old-School English Forward™ Jonathan Walters over Tuncay Sanli. The Turkish international appears to be a better choice than Walters to anyone who has working eyes and has seen football before. That, along with a combination of other factors has turned Stoke into a team in decline. Those other factors include Rory Delap getting old and Glenn Whelan having over-achieved for the previous two years.

Key Battle: Everton wide players versus Stoke wide players. Both of these teams are probably going to look to play down the flanks a fair bit and swing in crosses. Everton's wingers are probably going to be able to take advantage of the relative lack of speed that the Stoke fullbacks possess. On the other side of the ball, Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant are the Stoke players with the most ability to create scoring chances from open play, as they don't possess much creativity in the center of midfield.

Battle Within The Battle: Everton almost certainly have more talent than Stoke everywhere, including the flanks, but Steven Pienaar is just coming off an injury while Seamus Coleman has never played this many consecutive games at this level. Etherington and Pennant will be hard pressed to beat them for technical and physical ability, but they can probably beat them on fitness. The good news for Everton, though is that they did not have a mid-week Carling Cup match while Stoke did. Some players are going to become gassed in this game for sure, just because of the probable physical and direct nature of the play. If Stoke can get to halftime at 0-0, they might be able to win a fitness battle.