By Chris Kirwan
November 1 2002

Everton showed Arsenal that they hold no respect for records and the Blues head into Sunday’s game with Leeds aiming to shatter another.

Everton have failed to win a league fixture at Elland Road for 51 years, but go into the game with confidence high after back-to-back wins against Arsenal and West Ham. The Blues have been playing well away from home this season, but have often left without any reward for their efforts. However Moyes will hope that Everton will carry on where they left off at Upton Park; the Blues fought well and controlled the game. As a result confidence at the club is the highest it has been for years and the Blues will hope that they can take advantage of Leeds’ midweek exertions in the UEFA Cup and return to Goodison with maximum points.

The current Everton side is the opposite to their opponents from Yorkshire. Whereas the Leeds side contains the precocious talents of Kewell, Smith, Viduka and Dacourt, they often fail to work as a team. But for Everton under Moyes the emphasis has been on a collective effort, and this has brought rewards; if the Blues collect 3 points and results go their way Everton could climb to third in the Premiership. The game is similar to last Sunday’s encounter at Upton Park, if the Blues can shut down the opposition’s flair players then there is every chance of success.

One player that Moyes will be hoping improves on last week is Tomasz Radzinski. Radzinski was disappointing against West Ham, but has been crucial to Everton’s success this season. If Everton are put under pressure then the Canadian will provide welcome relief, and will test the Leeds back four. The likes of Harte and Kelly like to get forward, and Radebe is no longer one of the leagues top centre-backs; this means that Radzinski’s pace could unsettle Leeds. Moyes will once again ask Radzinski to run his socks off, to be replaced by Rooney in the last half hour.

David Weir will regain his place and the captain’s armband, but Tommy Gravesen will need a late fitness test. If he is fit it will be interesting to see if he replaces Linderoth or Li Tie. I’d like to see Tobias get the nod, as he looks like he is finally starting to settle.

Everton (from): Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Unsworth, Carsley, Gravesen, Li Tie, Linderoth, Pembridge, Radzinski, Rooney, Campbell, Alexandersson, Gerrard, Pistone, Gemmill, Watson, Li Weifeng, Stubbs.

Barmby will no doubt receive a ‘warm’ reception from the travelling Evertonians, but Olly Dacourt picked up a knock in their midweek victory and could miss out. Fowler won’t be fit, so won’t have the chance to repeat his double strike last season.

Leeds (from): Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Dacourt, Radebe, Woodgate, Bridges, Viduka, Kewell, Bowyer, Barmby, McPhail, Lucic, Smith, Mills, Bakke, Duberry, Burns, McMaster, Martyn.

Other News:
- FIFA are set to help the Blues recoup 500,000 they are owed by Perugia from the Marco Materazzi deal
-Steve McMahon wants to make a deal to keep Clarke and Southern at Blackpool, but Moyes insists that they are to stay at Goodison.
- Gravesen is still being linked away from Goodison, despite his agent stating that he’s happy. And the Blues are being linked with Cristiano Lucarelli, despite having plenty of strikers on the books.