The League Cup can be a bit of a distraction in the early rounds, particularly when you're forced, as Everton were, to enter at the Second Round stage because of your lack of involvement in Europe. For David Moyes and his teaqm, though, the hammering of Huddersfield Town in the Carling Cup on Wednesday may have provided just the tonic to kickstart their massively disappointing start to the Premier League campaign.
A lacklustre opening-day defeat at Blackburn, followed by an eerily familiar afternoon of frustration at Gooidson Park against Wolves that ended in a 1-1 draw, has put huge question marks over the Blues' top-four credentials... but, if expectations among supporters have been lowered, then perhaps an easing of any perceived pressure will help the players re-find their feet.
Certainly, they looked nothing like the team that surged through the latter half of last season on a run of Champions League-qualifying form, but hopes that Moyes's boys haven't lost their attacking mojo were raised in midweek with the 5-1 demolition of Huddersfield Town.
And they'll take heart from the fact that, though this league fixture is away from Goodison Park, the opposition are in a state of turmoil following the abrupt departure from Villa Park of Martin O'Neill on the eve of the new campaign.
An opening day win for Aston Villa over West Ham has been followed up by a 6-0 drubbing by newly-promoted Newcastle and a swift exit from the Europa League in Thursday at the hands of Rapid Vienna. If ever a team were low on confidence, the team overseen by interim boss, Kevin McDonald, surely are. Whether Everton can capitalise on a ground they've almost always struggled is another question...
Though his side were more attacking and adventurous in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, Moyes has reiterated his defensive outlook and dampened the fervour around Seamus Coleman by publicly pointing out his error that led to the Terriers' solitary goal.
Magaye Gueye, a player who seems to have a gift for lethal crosses if his pre-season form and his display against Huddersfield is any indication, may also have to be content with a place on the bench as the manager's infamous 'pragmatism' makes its expected return in the League this weekend.
Moyes will likely be without his captain, Phil Neville, whose foot injury looks likely to rule him out again. Based on the gaffer's comments regarding Coleman, Tony Hibbert would be the favourite to deputise again.
Phil Neville: A doubt once more after missing two previous games
Victor Anichebe's mystery knee injury will keep him sidelined and his Nigerian compatriots, Joseph Yobo and Yakubu, are also missing with apparent injuries and illness respectively.
If Everton are the top-four material most fans thought they were before the season kicked off, then this is a game in which they should go out and prove it by putting a team in chaos to the sword. It will take far more attacking imagination and incisiveness than they've shown thus far, though. Time for Moyes and his charges to deliver in what is still a fledgeling campaign.
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