PREM: Everton v Cardiff preview

Everton vs Cardiff preview

Everton will be aiming to maintain their strong recent record at Goodison Park when Cardiff City visit on Saturday.

The Toffees are seven points better off than at the same stage last season and have lost just one of their last nine games at home.

Cardiff remain in the relegation zone after beating Brighton 2-1 at home before the international break.

But Cardiff have won two of their last four games and Neil Warnock believes his side, written off by many at the start of the season, are becoming more competitive with each passing week.

"I think we can do better than what we have done," Warnock said. "We've got to eliminate those mistakes and continue to put teams under pressure.

"We've got a run now where we're playing teams who are not in the top six, not beyond us."

Everton midfielders Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes and forward Ademola Lookman are all fit to face Cardiff.

Sigurdsson did not even travel to join up with Iceland over the international break because of an ankle problem, while Gomes returned early from Portugal's squad because of bruising to his leg.

Similarly, Lookman was sent home by England Under-21s after sustaining a minor knock but all three players have recovered.

Cardiff skipper Sean Morrison was forced off against Brighton because of a broken nose but has recovered over the international break.

Harry Arter returns after suspension but Kenneth Zohore is out with a calf problem.