David Moyes has secret weapon against West Ham, it could be key to Everton victory

Everton to Face West Ham on Monday at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton will welcome West Ham to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday as they aim to bounce back from consecutive defeats in all competitions.

The Toffees are considered favourites heading into the clash, but that doesn’t guarantee an easy win.

One key factor that could swing the match in Everton’s favour is their strength from set-pieces — an area where West Ham have been particularly vulnerable under Graham Potter.

Everton’s Set-Piece Strength vs West Ham’s Weakness

So far this Premier League season, Everton have been impressive from dead-ball situations. While they haven’t always converted these chances into goals, they’ve generated the second-highest expected goals (xG) from set-pieces in the league — 3.17 — with only Arsenal ahead of them.

This could be crucial on Monday, especially given West Ham’s ongoing issues defending set pieces. As of 25 September, Opta reports that West Ham have conceded the highest xG from set-pieces in the league — 3.45 — resulting in five goals conceded in that manner.

If the trend continues, Everton may have a real opportunity to exploit this weakness and find the net from a dead-ball situation — potentially a decisive factor in the match.

Could Thierno Barry Open His Account?

Thierno Barry, who joined Everton in the summer, has yet to score for the club. However, Monday’s fixture could be the perfect chance for the striker to break his duck.

With West Ham struggling to defend set-pieces and Barry’s strength in the air, this game presents a great opportunity for him to finally get on the scoresheet and kickstart his Everton career.