Evertonvs.Sporting Lisbon

This will be the last bit of preparation for both sides before they get their campaigns underway next Saturday.

Match preview

Everton, once again, look like they will enter the season not fully prepared for the new season.

For the second season running it appears the Toffees will start without a suitable option to start up front.

After losing Yerry Mina and Conor Coady too, Everton are yet to bring in any centre-back reinforcements, with no links having been made yet.

Youssef Chermiti could arrive in time to play against the club he is expected to leave in the coming days, but at just 19, he is unlikely to be thrust straight into the first team.

On a positive note though, Neal Maupay and Lewis Dobbin both found the net in Everton's 2-2 behind-closed-doors friendly draw with Monza on Tuesday and Dominic Calvert-Lewin did get some minutes.

Dobbin especially has starred in pre-season for Everton, and could feature again with manager Sean Dyche reportedly impressed with what he has seen from the youngster.

Everton are still unbeaten in pre-season, winning three and drawing twice, and the goals conceded against Monza were just the second and third they have let in so far.

Preparation among the rest of the squad is taking shape though, as Dyche was able to call upon more first-team options for the trip to Stoke City last weekend.

Everton kick their season off against Fulham and their former manager Marco Silva at Goodison Park next Saturday.

Sporting were disappointing in the Portuguese top flight last season, finishing fourth behind Braga, and a long way behind champions and local rivals Benfica.

However, pre-season form suggests they may have turned a corner with some excellent results so far.

3-0 wins over both Real Sociedad and Villarreal in the past week will mean the Lions arrive in England with plenty of confidence.

It was a poor record before the World Cup which ultimately cost them any sort of success last season, as only Porto and Juventus beat Sporting since early January.

Sporting have Viktor Gyokeres in their ranks now, a player Everton were reportedly after earlier in the summer, and whose arrival is what is opening up Chermiti's move to Goodison.

The Swede scored 40 goals in the past two seasons for Coventry City, and has already opened his account with his new club, scoring in the win over Real Sociedad.

Everton friendly form:

Sporting Lisbon friendly form:

Team News

Calvert-Lewin picked up an injury on the eve of last season, but after missing the season finale, returned to play a cameo role in the recent friendly with Monza.

It is unlikely the striker will be rushed back though given his recent injury record, so he will almost certainly not play the full 90 here.

Dwight McNeil is out and being assessed after an injury picked up against Stoke has turned out to be worse than first feared.

Seamus Coleman is Everton's other injury absentee, while Demarai Gray will not be involved after it was revealed he has not been training with the side as a move to Fulham edges closer.

Jeremiah St Juste is set to be Sporting's only injury concern, as Daniel Braganca and Jovane Cabral have both returned from knocks that saw them miss the end of last season.

Gyokeres is likely to keep Paulinho on the bench again, despite the Portuguese forward's goal against Villarreal in their last outing.

Former Liverpool man Sebastian Coates is expected to return to Merseyside to captain the side in this one.

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Patterson, Keane, Tarkowski, Young; Iwobi, Onana, Garner, Doucoure, Dobbin; Danjuma

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Eduardo Quaresma, Coates, Goncalo Inacio; Ricardo Esgaio, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Matheus Reis; Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao

We say: Everton 1-2 Sporting Lisbon

Sporting certainly bring more form and more quality on paper into this clash, but Everton have been solid so far in pre-season and it should be a close encounter.

This will be the first meeting between the sides since a Europa League Round of 32 clash back in 2010, when Sporting won 4-2 on aggregate despite losing the first leg at Goodison.

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