Everton could climb up to seventh in the Premier League if they can make it four wins in a row on Saturday against a West Bromwich Albion side in a stale patch of form.
The Toffees will start as favourites, especially given West Brom's need for a penalty shootout to beat Peterborough United in last night's FA Cup fourth-round replay.
Everton
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Go back a couple of weeks and Everton were in a mess having won just one of their last 10 Premier League games and thrown away a two-goal advantage in the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
Since then Roberto Martinez's men have scored nine goals and conceded none in three straight 3-0 wins, one in the FA Cup at Carlisle United followed by Premier League successes over Newcastle United and Stoke City.
Last weekend's triumph at Stoke was the most impressive of the lot as the Blues went to the Britannia and scored three before half time to climb up to eighth and above Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the table.
Two players, in particular, have shone during Everton's recent run. In attack, Aaron Lennon has scored in all three games and if he keeps going like this then Roy Hodgson will have to keep a close eye on him with Euro 2016 on the horizon, although there is plenty of competition out wide and in attacking midfield for the Three Lions.
Speaking of Hodgson, he invited midfielder Tom Cleverley to St George's Park today for a get-together with the England team, suggesting that the former Manchester United man could be part of the next national squad.
Joel Robles has also impressed in goal with Tim Howard absent, and shutouts against Newcastle and Stoke means that he has now kept a clean sheet in his last five consecutive Premier League games for Everton.
However, as a team Everton have conceded 22 goals at Goodison Park this season; the only side in Europe's top five leagues to have conceded as many at home this term are Serie A outfit Frosinone.
As well as the improved form of the team, there has been an added feel-good factor with the Toffees this week after nine-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer George Shaw won the club's goal of the month for January.
Recent Premier League form: DDDLWW
Recent form (all competitions): DLLWWW
West Brom
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Tony Pulis conceded after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at bottom-three side Newcastle United that West Brom are in a relegation battle with just 13 games of the season remaining.
The Baggies, who sit 14th and six points above the drop zone, are without a win in five league games, scoring just one in the last four, and they go to Goodison on Saturday ravaged by injuries and possibly jaded after a penalty-shootout win at Peterborough last night.
Despite starting both Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon in attack, West Brom had to fight back from a goal down and forced extra time against the League One side thanks to Darren Fletcher's pinpoint half-volley.
Fletcher would go on to drag wide in the shootout, but Ben Foster made a pair of saves to send the Baggies through to a last-16 tie against Reading next weekend.
It is a favourable draw given that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs are still in it and a win this weekend, followed by success against Reading, would ease the pressure on Pulis.
One thing his side must improve is starting faster - the Baggies have scored just one goal in the opening 15 minutes in their last 30 Premier League matches.
Recent Premier League form: WDLDDL
Recent form (all competitions): WDDDLW
Team News
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Sweeping changes are unlikely from Martinez given the hosts' form and he could go with an unchanged XI, although John Stones and Leighton Baines could return at the back.
In midfield, Lennon and Cleverley are likely to continue at Gerard Deulofeu and Arouna Kone's expense, while Romelu Lukaku is expected to shake off a back injury and play against the team he once starred for on loan. In fact, the Belgian has scored three goals in his last three Premier League appearances against the Baggies.
Howard is back in contention to start in goal, but it would be a big surprise to see Robles dropped given his solid recent displays.
West Brom were supposed to have a day off today, but Pulis asked the players to come in so that he could assess who is fit to play this weekend.
The club is struggling for numbers at the back especially, after Gareth McAuley limped off in the first half last night to join Craig Dawson, Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt on the sidelines. Dawson and Brunt could return this weekend, but if not then Cristian Gamboa and Sebastien Pocognoli could earn rare Premier League starts.
Surprisingly, Pulis used only two of his substitutes against Peterborough, so Victor Anichebe is likely to come back lead the line after both Berahino and Rondon played all 120 minutes last night.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Robles; Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Lennon, Barkley, Cleverley; Lukaku
West Brom possible starting lineup:
Foster; Dawson, Chester, Olsson, Pocognoli; Yacob, Sandro; Sessegnon, Fletcher, McClean; Anichebe
Head To Head
Everton scored three goals from just four shots on target when they came back from 2-0 down to beat West Brom 3-2 at The Hawthorns in the September reverse.
That made it nine Premier League matches unbeaten against the Baggies, although the last two at Goodison Park have ended goalless.
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We say: Everton 1-0 West Brom
West Brom badly need a win to pull away from the drop zone, but it is unlikely to come this weekend against an in-form Everton side much better rested than the injury-hit Baggies.
Pascal Lemesre
