Preview: Everton vs. West Ham United

Everton welcome West Ham United to Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon on a 13-match unbeaten run against the Londoners.

Not since now-Queens Park Rangers striker Bobby Zamora scored the only goal of the game at Upton Park in 2007 have the Hammers beaten the Toffees.

However, Everton manager Roberto Martinez is wary that his side will be up against a much-improved outfit this weekend.

The Spaniard was very complimentary of West Ham, who are fourth in the table, six places above the Blues, following four wins and two draws in their last six games.

He told reporters: "West Ham have been the most consistent team in the Premier League and it wasn't by accident. The way they play is very brave - they've a lot of attackers. It'll be one of our the biggest challenges.

"It is still early days but we still have four teams challenging for the title and eight teams looking for Europe."

Six-goal striker Diafra Sakho and England midfielder Stewart Downing have been key figures in making West Ham apparent European contenders, but both face late fitness tests ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

Sam Allardyce has revealed that club-record signing Andy Carroll, who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the 0-0 stalemate with Aston Villa, is still short of match sharpness.

Therefore Carlton Cole would be a more likely alternative to Sakho as Enner Valencia's strike partner, while Mauro Zarate could be handed a first start since October 5 behind the two-man attack.

Martinez has greater injury concerns, particularly at the back, where he was already without John Stones and Antolin Alcaraz before Leighton Baines, who scored a brace of inch-perfect free kicks in Everton's 3-2 victory at West Ham last season, suffered a hamstring strain on England duty.

With Bryan Oviedo still on the road to recovery and Gareth Barry facing a spell on the sidelines after sustaining ligament damage, Toffees stalwart Tony Hibbert could be asked to fill in at left-back.

There are also doubts over James McCarthy, Darron Gibson and Kevin Mirallas, so Muhamed Besic and Leon Osman could be recalled to an attacking lineup featuring Ross Barkley, Samuel Eto'o and Romelu Lukaku.

Everton:

Form in Premier League: DLWWDD Form in all competitions: WDWDWD

Possible starting lineup: Howard; Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Hibbert; Besic, Osman; Eto'o, Barkley, McGeady; Lukaku

West Ham:

Recent form: DDWWWL

Possible starting lineup: Adrian; Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Song, Kouyate; Zarate; Valencia, Cole

Sports Mole says: 1-1