Everton instantly lost the momentum of their previous home victory, a resounding thumping of Manchester United, with successive defeats at Sporting in the Europa League and Tottenham last Sunday, a result that made their outside hopes of a return to European football next season appear even more remote. Their undoubted low point of the season, however, came at Hull in November, when Phil Brown’s relegation-threatened team coasted to a three-goal lead inside 28 minutes. The possible return of Jimmy Bullard from a three-month injury lay-off offers Hull much-needed hope in their bid for survival. Andy Hunter

Venue Goodison Park, Sunday 4pm

Tickets £29-35 (0871 663 1878)

Last season Everton 2 Hull 0

Referee L Mason

This season’s matches 16 Y45, R4, 3.06 cards per game

Odds Everton 2-5 Hull 10-1 Draw 15-4

Everton

Subs from Nash, Yobo, Jagielka, Senderos, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Anichebe, Duffy, Cahill, Gosling, Coleman, Agard, Baxter, Wallace

Doubtful Cahill (calf), Jagielka (thigh), Osman (foot), Senderos (hip), Vaughan (thigh)

Injured Hibbert, hernia, 20 Mar), Saha (hamstring, 20 Mar), Fellaini (ankle, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide LWWLWW

Disciplinary record Y47 R2

Leading scorer Saha 13

Hull

Subs from Duke, Kilbane, Mendy, Olofinjana, Marney, Garcia, Altidore, Ghilas, Boateng, Folan, Zaki, Sonko

Doubtful Bullard (knee), Geovanni (knee), Marney (calf), Olofinjana (ankle)

Injured Ashbee (knee, Aug), Gardner (ankle, unknown)

Suspended Fagan (one match)

Form guide LLWDDL

Disciplinary record Y50 R4

Leading scorer Hunt 6

Match pointers

• Hull have failed to score in eight of their last 10 away league games

• Steven Pienaar has picked up five yellow cards in his last four Premier League games

• James Vaughan scored the fastest Premier League goal by a substitute this season, 1min and 42sec after coming off the bench

•Hull have allowed their opponents 382 shots – more than any other side in the top flight this season

• Everton have scored at least twice in seven of their last eight meetings with Hull in all competitions

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Arsenal’s midweek postponement deprived them of an opportunity to move to within a point of the leaders, but they will be intent upon maintaining recent momentum against an Everton team who are steadily recovering their form. The Merseysiders’ heavy home defeat to Arsenal on the opening day of the season set a troubling tone that has left them marooned in the lower reaches, yet they arrive at the Emirates unbeaten in five league games – albeit with only one of those won – and apparently upwardly mobile again. Their hosts, even without Cesc Fábregas for another week, will test that newfound resilience. Dominic Fifield

Venue Emirates Stadium

Tickets Sold out

Last season Arsenal 3 Everton 1

Referee P Walton

This season’s matches 12 Y28, R2, 2.50 cards per game

sportingbet odds Arsenal 4-11 Everton 13-2 Draw 16-5

Arsenal

Subs from Fabianski, Mannone, Szczesny, Silvestre, Rosicky, Mérida, Vela, Barazite, Eastmond, Watt, Randall, Bartley

Doubtful None

Injured Fábregas (hamstring, 17 Jan), Senderos (foot, 17 Jan), Walcott (back, 17 Jan), Clichy (back, 23 Jan), Bendtner (groin, 27 Jan), Wilshere (hamstring, 23 Jan), Gibbs (ankle, Mar), Djourou (knee, Apr), Van Persie (ankle, May)

Suspended None

Unavailable Eboué, Song (Africa Cup of Nations)

Form guide WWWDWW

Disciplinary record Y27 R0

Leading scorer Fábregas 9

Everton

Subs from Nash, Osman, Donovan, Duffy, Mustafi, Coleman, Agard, Baxter, Wallace, Akpan, Vaughan, Gosling

Doubtful Hibbert (groin), Saha (hamstring)

Injured Rodwell (hamstring, 16 Jan), Distin (hamstring, 23 Jan), Anichebe (knee, Feb), Jagielka (knee, Feb), Arteta (knee, unknown)

Unavailable Jô (club suspension), Yakubu, Yobo (Africa Cup of Nations)

Suspended None

Form guide WDDDDL

Disciplinary record Y31 R1

Leading scorer Saha 10

Match pointers

• Arsenal have scored more goals against Everton (73) than any team have netted against any opponent in the Premier League

• Everton have lost 13 of their 14 visits to Arsenal in all competitions since their last win in north London (2-1 in January 1996)

• Arsenal have scored 31% of their goals from outside the box this season, the highest proportion in the division

• The 7-0 defeat at Highbury and the 6-1 loss at Goodison earlier this season represent Everton’s biggest away and home defeats respectively in the Premier League

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