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Attendance: 36,691
Everton logo
Premier League
May 15, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
Norwich logo

3-0

McCarthy (19'), Baines (44' pen.), Mirallas (48')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Everton vs. Norwich City

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League finale between managerless Everton and Norwich City at Goodison Park.

On Sunday, Everton will play their first game since the sacking of manager Roberto Martinez, which will also be the club's final match before the season comes to an end.

The Merseyside outfit, who will have David Unsworth and Joe Royle in temporary charge, will welcome already-relegated Norwich City to Goodison Park.


Everton

Roberto Martinez watches on during the Premier League game between Everton and West Ham United on March 5, 2016© Getty Images

Almost every Everton supporter knew that Martinez's time at the club was coming to an end, particularly as a large majority of them urged the Toffees to part way with the Spaniard.

The axe finally fell on Thursday when it was announced that Martinez had left the club with immediate effect following a three-year spell in charge.

The 42-year-old managed to guide the team to the semi-finals of the League Cup and FA Cup, but it was Premier League form that ultimately resulted in his dismissal.

After finishing the 2014-15 season in 11th place, the club vowed to do better and push for a European spot, but they could end the current campaign in the same position or worse as they are currently 12th in the standings after winning just 10 of their 37 league games.

In fact, the team have earned just four points since March 5, and have recorded just one victory in 10 matches in all competitions.

Wednesday night's 3-0 defeat to relegation survivors Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was the final nail in the coffin for Martinez.

The team's performances have left many scratching their heads considering the amount of talent that they have in their squad, particularly influential players like Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, but even they have not impressed in the last few weeks.

The focus now turns to the future and who will replace Martinez. Currently, recently-departed Ajax boss Frank de Boer is the bookmakers' favourite, and his twin brother Ronald has confirmed that his sibling is interested in the vacancy.

Both Ronald Koeman and Mark Hughes have ruled out the possibility of making the switch to Goodison Park as they are happy in their respective jobs at Southampton and Stoke City.

With regards to matters on the pitch, Everton may struggle to record a shutout this weekend as they have conceded 11 goals in their last four games.

Also, only relegated Aston Villa (11) have picked up fewer points than Everton (20) have on home turf in the league this season.

Recent form: DDLWLL
Recent form (all competitions): DLLWLL


Norwich City

Norwich City manager Alex Neil feels like he's headbutted a horse after his side are relegated from the Premier League despite a 4-2 win over Watford on May 11, 2016© Getty Images

The Canaries were hoping to push their battle for survival into the final weekend of the Premier League season, but it was not to be as Sunderland sent them down with their win over Everton in midweek.

Norwich put on a good performance against Watford that night and managed to come from behind to seal a 4-2 victory at Carrow Road, but it was not enough to save them.

Manager Alex Neil was in a reflective mood after the result, stating that he let the supporters and the players down this season, and it is not yet clear whether the Scotsman will stay on as manager.

The 34-year-old was unhappy to see chief executive David McNally step down, but he recently indicated that he wants to stay at Carrow Road after claiming that changes within the team need to be made.

The team may finish their season on a high, though, as they ended a run of four consecutive defeats by winning on Wednesday night, but they have lost eight of their last nine league matches on the road.

In addition, they could not muster a goal in seven of those games.

Recent form: WLLLLW


Team News

Tim Howard of Everton during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at White Hart Lane on August 29, 2015 in London, United Kingdom.© Getty Images

Tim Howard is expected to make his final appearance for Everton before ending a 10-year spell with the Toffees to return to the United States to play for MLS side Colorado Rapids.

Captain Phil Jagielka and full-back Seamus Coleman could make appearances on Sunday after stepping up recovery from hamstring injuries.

As for Norwich, they have no fresh injury concerns, indicating that Neil could field the same side that beat Watford in midweek.

Timm Klose, Jonny Howson and Alex Tettey remain absent with injuries.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Howard; Pennington, Jagielka, Stones, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Mirallas, Barkley, Cleverley; Lukaku

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Olsson, Martin, Bennett, Pinto; Brady, O'Neil, Dorrans, Redmond; Naismith, Mbokani


Head To Head

Everton have a decent record over Norwich given that they have suffered defeat in just one of their last 11 league fixtures against the Canaries.

The Toffees have won four of those meetings, but six of the previous eight matches between the two sides have ended as draws.

Earlier in the season at Carrow Road, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw, with Lukaku and Wes Hoolahan finding the back of the net.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Everton 2-0 Norwich City

It has been a turbulent few days for Everton to say the least, and the dismissal of Martinez has dispelled fears of a negative atmosphere at Goodison Park this Sunday. It is unclear how the players will respond to the manager's departure, but they will all be determined to end the campaign with a victory. Norwich performed well against Watford, but it might be too much of an ask for them to sign off their time in the top flight with a win.



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Roberto Martinez looks on prior to the FA Cup fifth-round match between Bournemouth and Everton on February 20, 2016
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14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
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