Everton v Hull City - 3rd Dec 2014| Preview

Everton are looking to bounce back from their first Premier League defeat in six when they host struggling Hull on Wednesday.

The Toffees were five unbeaten in the top flight before losing at Tottenham on Sunday, but have been struggling for home wins recently, with only three victories in their last nine Premier League games at Goodison Park.

Hull, meanwhile, are in freefall after losing 3-0 at Manchester United at the weekend – their fourth league defeat in a row – and the Tigers now sit 17th in the table, only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Bruce: Huddlestone set for return

Steve Bruce slammed his side’s mistakes in the game at Old Trafford – his 700th as a football manager – and he will be desperate to tighten things up as they look for their first win on the road since August.

Team News

Everton pair Steven Naismith and James McCarthy will undergo late fitness tests with both nursing hamstring problems. While Martinez rates Naismith as having an "outside chance" of featuring against the Tigers, he is expecting the game will come too soon for midfielder McCarthy.

Martinez rules out McCarthy sale

Darron Gibson (knee) will not be involved and it remains to be seen whether Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone might after both played in an Under-21s fixture on Monday as they continued to work towards match fitness.

Steve Bruce has no fresh injury concerns and is set to bring Tom Huddlestone back into the midfield after leaving the former Tottenham man out of the side for the defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

Striker Abel Hernandez has returned to England after travelling to Uruguay for the birth of his child but will not be included, while his countryman Gaston Ramirez serves the second part of a three-match suspension

Opta Facts

Livermore's goal against Spurs is their only strike in five

Everton have won four of the six Premier League meetings with Hull (W4 D1 L1), including all three at Goodison Park.

The Toffees have scored at least twice in 14 of their last 16 home league games. Indeed, in 25 PL home games under Roberto Martinez, they’ve scored two or more 19 times.

Hull City have won only six Premier League games in 2014 so far, fewer than any ever-present team (D7 L19).

Hull have failed to score in four of their last five Premier League games and only netted once in the other game during this run.

If Premier League games ended after 45 minutes this season, Everton would be second with 22 points behind Chelsea (27).

Merson’s Predictions

Mirallas: Scored in the defeat at Tottenham

“I was shocked with how it turned out on Sunday. When Everton went one up with that worldy by Kevin Mirallas I thought they’d go on and win. I worry for Hull at the moment – I didn’t at the start of the season, but watching them the other day they were terrible. They’re fourth from bottom and I don’t see them getting anything from this, while I reckon Everton will win and get back on another roll.”

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-2
Betting

Our partners at Sky Bet have Hull at a massive 5/1 to win at Goodison Park, while Everton are odds-on favourites at 8/15 to take victory, while the draw is 3/1. There’s also a tempting price of 13/8 on Everton to win to nil. Visit www.skybet.com for all the latest prices and offers on the game.