Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EFL Cup match.
Everton
Everton's position at the bottom of the Premier League table is well-deserved. The issues from last season persist, and with the departure of key midfielder Amadou Onana, they have only got worse. Everton's problems are twofold: their defence is consistently poor, and their attack is struggling. They are averaging just one shot on target per game. While their match against Doncaster offers a chance to address some issues, it’s not the ideal setting for significant improvements.
Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster scored in every match, whether in League 2 or the EFL Cup. They have eight goals in four matches. In the first round of the EFL Cup, they defeated Salford City with a 2:0 away win. The club's top scorer is currently winger Luke Molyneux with three goals, followed by the highly experienced 38-year-old Billy Sharp with two goals. Sharp, who has scored 117 goals for Sheffield United, previously netted 44 goals for Doncaster and returned this summer as a free agent from Hull. These two will be the main threats for Doncaster.
Everton - Doncaster Rovers Prediction
Everton will likely score, but how many is unclear. Doncaster also have some attacking prowess but will struggle to create many opportunities against even an unreliable Premier League defence. It's worth noting that the clubs met a year ago in the same second round of the EFL Cup. Despite fielding a near full-strength squad, Everton barely managed a 2:1 win, scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute. Therefore, we don't foresee an easy victory for the Premier League side.
