Premier League match preview: Ipswich Town v Everton

Ipswich are looking to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat to West Ham (Image: Ross Halls)

Welcome back!

It feels like it’s been an eternity since we last got to watch club football. In some ways, perhaps that’s a good thing.

The players and the fans have had a chance to reflect on the last game - a 4-1 defeat to West Ham. It was a bit of a reality check after a four-match unbeaten run, albeit that they were all draws. Town were comfortably second best in London.

10 players have been away on international duty. All 10 have seemingly come back fit and firing. The rest of the squad have had time to work on the problems they faced at the London Stadium.

If there ever was a good time for an international break - which there isn’t - then maybe this would be it. That being said, we’ve all missed club football and are all excited to have it back.

For the Blues, this next block of games are crucial, particularly the upcoming home games against Everton and Leicester City.

The Blues are one of four sides chasing their first league win of the season (Image: Ross Halls)

Hunt for the first win

The reason why these next few games are so big for Ipswich is because they’re still looking for their first victory of the season.

Winning isn’t everything, that’s clear. Kieran McKenna’s side have picked up four points this season without taking more than one from a single game. But only three teams have beaten them so far this season, which has opened up a little gap on the likes of Southampton and Wolves, who've got just one draw each so far this season.

These are minor, if not minuscule differences so early in the season, but they can all add up in the end. In May, they might just be the difference between relegation and survival.

The latter won’t be possible unless they start winning matches, however, and this is a key opportunity for them to get their first.

Externally, this is a source of major concern. Internally, supporters are much more optimistic and level-headed, but even they are aware that results will need pick up soon, even if the general consensus is that Town have done well so far.

Today’s game isn’t a must-win, but they'll gain a lot of confidence if they can get it. On top of that, their recent record against Everton can't be forgotten.

Across their 59 competitive meetings since 1953, the Toffees have had the better of Ipswich (25 wins, 19 draws, 15 defeats), but Town's last stint in the Premier League saw them turn the tables.

They did the double over them in 2000/01 - the season they finished fifth - winning 3-0 at Portman Road and 2-0 at Goodison. The following season, when the Blues were relegated, they drew 0-0 on Suffolk soil and then won 2-1 win the North West.

Everton have had a tough start to the Premier League campaign (Image: PA)

Toffees' troubles

Everton have been the butt of many Premier League jokes in the last few weeks and months. Their fans have grown incredibly frustrated by the results and the mood at the club, leading to backlash against the players, the manager and the board.

That anger has seeped through onto social media and perhaps distracted from the fact that they’ve shown some improvements.

There’s no denying that they had a rough start. A 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton was followed up by a 4-0 drubbing on the road at Tottenham. A Carabao Cup win at home to League Two Doncaster Rovers could’ve given them confidence, but things arguably got worse. 

They took a two-goal lead at home to Bournemouth, only to concede three goals between the 87th and 92nd minutes to lose. They then blew another two-goal lead at Aston Villa before being knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties by Southampton.

A 1-1 draw at Leicester City stopped the rot and a 2-1 win at home to Crystal Palace gave them something to build on. Before the international break, they hosted Newcastle United and held them to a goalless draw at Goodison Park.

On top of that, it seems like the Friedkin Group's takeover of the club will soon materialise. While it’s clear that there’s still a negative atmosphere around the club, but they’re starting to show signs of life now.

Town's best performances this season have come at Portman Road (Image: Steve Waller)

Portman Road factor

There’s no denying that Ipswich have found life tough on the road so far this season. They’ve only played four games away from home, which is a small sample size, but they’ve struggled to control games and create chances.

Manchester City away can be ignored. The game at Brighton was incredibly one-sided. A stoppage-time equaliser salvaged a point at Southampton and they were comfortably beaten at West Ham.

At home, the performances tell a different story. They impressed in the opening hour against Liverpool and, on another day, could’ve undoubtedly beaten both Fulham and Aston Villa. There’s an argument that they were better than both.

In the last two seasons, the only away teams to win at Portman Road were Lincoln City, Leeds United and Maidstone United. It’s a hard place to go for almost any team - and that’s going to be crucial for Ipswich this season.

On home soil, they can capitalise on the momentum to make life difficult for their opponents in a way that they can’t do at home. As a result, all 19 matches in IP1 this season will be crucial, especially ones against the likes of Everton, who are also down at the bottom of the division.

Ben Johnson will look to start against the Toffees in Axel Tuanzebe's absence (Image: Ross Halls)

Who could start?

Thankfully, it looks like everyone has returned from international duty without any injuries. That means it’s pretty much as you were in terms of availability, but there are still some question marks.

One of those areas is right-back, where Axel Tuanzebe is sidelined for the foreseeable after badly cutting his hand while washing up. Ben Johnson filled in for him away at West Ham but struggled against his former club.

Although he’ll likely be given the nod again, Dara O’Shea can also play there. Should that change happen, it’d likely mean a reprieve for Luke Woolfenden to partner Jacob Greaves. Harry Clarke could come in for his first minutes since April, but throwing him in at the deep end for his first start feels like a risk.

Ahead of them, captain Sam Morsy will almost certainly partner Kalvin Phillips, although Jack Taylor has impressed away with the Republic of Ireland. McKenna will probably want to grow that partnership in the coming weeks and months.

Liam Delap is nailed on to lead the line, but who plays behind him? Fans want to see Sammie Szmodics flanked either side by Jack Clarke and Omari Hutchinson, but the latter is more likely to play through the middle to accommodate the direct running of Wes Burns or Chiedozie Ogbene on the right.

Regardless, McKenna has some big calls to make.