Everton match preview

• Alou Diarra has returned to full training after recovering from a thigh injury suffered in training.

• Momo Diame will be missing after picking up a hamstring injury in the 3-2 loss to Liverpool.

• George McCartney will also be absent after picking up a knee injury in training.

• Andy Carroll (knee) and Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) are both making good progress but are still some weeks from making a return.

Everton

• Captain Phil Neville will not feature after being ruled out for two months following an operation on his knee. Full-back Tony Hibbert is also out after undergoing calf surgery.

• Marouane Fellaini is unavailable after being banned by the FA for three matches after headbutting Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross last weekend.

• Ross Barkley, who played in the Development Squad's 5-1 win over Everton earlier this season, has been recalled from his loan at Sheffield Wednesday and is likely to be on the bench.

• Former Hammers midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger was on the bench for Everton's 1-1 draw against Stoke City last weekend and could potentially feature.


Background

• West Ham United and Everton have met 104 times in league matches. Everton have won 51 times, West Ham have won 32 and there have been 21 draws. Overall, the two clubs have met 124 times, with Everton winning 61, West Ham 36 and there being 27 draws.

• The Toffees are unbeaten in nine matches against their hosts, including the last eight Premier League meetings. Everton have won 16 of the 32 Premier League meetings between the two, while West Ham United have won just six. However, the most-recent three league games have ended in draws.

• The first-ever meeting between West Ham United and Everton was an FA Cup second-round tie played on 2 February 1907. Harry Stapley scored for the Hammers, who were then a Southern League side, but the Division One Toffees ran out 2-1 winners through goals from Jimmy Settle and Jack Sharp. Everton would go on to reach the final, losing 2-1 to The Wednesday at Crystal Palace.

• West Ham United and Everton have met twice at the FA Cup semi-final stage, with each club winning through once on their way to lifting the trophy at Wembley. The Toffees scored a 2-1 victory at Molineux on 18 March 1933, when Vic Watson's goal was cancelled out by Ted Critchley and James Dunn, before beating Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley. The Division Two Hammers gained their revenge on 16 April 1980, when Frank Lampard and Alan Devonshire scored in a 2-1 replay victory at Elland Road. West Ham went on to beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final.

• West Ham United have never scored more than four goals in a game against Everton - achieving that feat on six occasions. The Hammers' biggest home victor over the Toffees was a 4-0 Division One success on 11 February 1961, when Harry Obeney scored twice and John Dick and Malcolm Musgrove once each.

• Vivian Gibbins scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 Division One win at Goodison Park on 10 April 1929, while Jimmy Ruffell repeated the feat in a 4-2 home Division One victory on 5 December 1931 - they remain the only two trebles netted by West Ham United players against Everton.

• Everton's biggest victory at the Boleyn Ground came on 26 February 2000, when the Toffees scored a 4-0 Premier League win. Nick Barmby scored a hat-trick and American Joe-Max Moore added a fourth.

• Winston Reid scored past Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha at the 2010 FIFA World Cup when his last-minute header secured New Zealand a 1-1 group-stage draw with Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

• Mohamed Diame lined up alongside Everton winger Magaye Gueye at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where the pair helped Senegal to reach the quarter-finals


Last time out

Sunday 16 December 2012
Barclays Premier League
West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel (Tomkins 81), Nolan, Jarvis (Maiga 76), Taylor, Noble, O'Neil, Cole.
Subs not used: Spiegel, Spence, Moncur Lletget

Saturday 15 December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Stoke City 1-1 Everton
Everton: Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavic, Naismith (Barkley 70).
Subs not used: Mucha, Heitinga, Duffy, Oviedo, Hitzlsperger, Vellios.
Goals: Shawcross og 36.


Previous meeting

Everton and West Ham United drew 2-2 at Goodison Park in the Premier League on 22 January 2011. Marouane Fellaini scored in added time to rescue a point for Everton after an 84th-minute strike from Frederic Piquionne looked to have sealed victory for West Ham United. Jonathan Spector opened the scoring after 26 minutes before Diniyar Bilyaletdinov smashed home with 13 minutes remaining. Piquionne put the Hammers ahead soon after heading in from Wayne Bridge's cross but the forward was dismissed moments after for his over-exuberant celebration. It was not to be though as Fellaini collected Jack Rodwell's flick before turning and firing past Rob Green from 10-yards to end the game 2-2.

Everton: Howard, Heitinga, Baines, Coleman, Distin, Neville (Rodwell 86), Fellaini , Osman, Arteta, Anichebe (Bilyaletdinov 69), Beckford (Saha 45)

West Ham United: Green, Tomkins, Spector, Faubert, Bridge, Parker, Boa Morte, Noble, Hines (Sears 81, Reid 90), Piquionne


Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)

22 January 2011 - Everton 2-2 West Ham United
28 December 2010 - West Ham United 1-1 Everton
4 April 2010 - Everton 2-2 West Ham United
8 November 2009 - West Ham United 1-2 Everton
16 May 2009 - Everton 3-1 West Ham United
8 November 2008 - West Ham United 1-3 Everton

Overall record v Everton (all competitions) W 36 D 27 L 61


Ten-year records

West Ham United

2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)

Everton

2011/12 Premier League 7th (56 points)
2010/11 Premier League 7th (54 points)
2009/10 Premier League 8th (61 points)
2008/09 Premier League 5th (63 points)
2007/08 Premier League 5th (65 points)
2006/07 Premier League 6th (58 points)
2005/06 Premier League 11th (50 points)
2004/05 Premier League 4th (61 points)
2003/04 Premier League 17th (39 points)
2002/03 Premier League 7th (59 points)


Referee

• Saturday's referee will be Anthony Taylor.

• Taylor is in his third season on the Select Group of referees appointed to control Barclays Premier League fixtures.

• The Greater Manchester-born official started refereeing in the Northern Premier League in 2002 before being appointed to the Football League list at the start of the 2006/07 season, refereeing his match between Wrexham and Peterborough United in League Two on 12 August 2006.

• Taylor's first Premier League appointment was the 3 February 2010 encounter between today's visitors Fulham and former West Ham United manager Avram Grant's Portsmouth, with the Cottagers winning 1-0.

• Taylor has taken charge of one West Ham United game this season, the 3-0 win over Fulham in September, and was the fourth official in the 0-0 draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

• The 33-year-old took charge of the Hammers' final Barclays Premier League fixture before they were relegated to the npower Championship in May 2011 when Sunderland secured a 3-0 win at the Boleyn Ground.

• When asked in an interview what his favourite match that he has refereed was, he named British Gas Business Southern League Midland Division side Chasetown's victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup second round in December 2007.

• Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Simon Long, Andy D'Urso is the fourth official.


Old boys

• Everton midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger spent the 2010/11 season at the Boleyn Ground joining the club in June 2010. Injury hampered his spell at the club and he did not make his debut until February 2011 when he played in the FA Cup fifth round against Burnley. He made his league debut in a 3-1 win over Liverpool and he scored his first goal in a 3-0 win over Stoke City on 5 March 2011.

• Among the players who have represented both clubs are Niclas Alexandersson, Ray Atteveld, Slaven Bilic, Ian Bishop, Joe Blythe, David Burrows, Tony Cottee, Charlie Crossley, George Eccles, William Kelly, George Kitchen, Alex McCartney, Lucas Neill, John Russell, David Unsworth, Mark Ward, William Wildman, Danny Williamson and Richard Wright.


General information

• Tickets are now SOLD OUT.

• Saturday's weather forecast at the Boleyn Ground is for light rain with maximum temperatures reaching 10C (50F).