Everton and Middlesbrough will clash in a battle of Premier League clubs looking to advance to the semi final round of the FA Cup. The two clubs are in opposite ends of the current Premier league table with Everton near the top and Boro fighting to avoid the drop.
Everton are presently in 6th place of the Premiership log with 45 points following their 0-0 draw away to Blackburn Rovers in their last match. The Toffees held serve at home in the 4th Round of the FA Cup to defeat Aston Villa by a score of 3-1. The squad managed by David Moyes have a number of injury concerns for this contest with the most important being the absence of the influential Mikel Arteta. Anichebe, Yakubu and Nuno Valente are also among those out injured.
The visiting Middlesbrough were trounced in their last Premier League match as they fell to Tottenham Hotspur by a score of 4-0 at White Hart Lane. That loss leaves Boro in 19th place of the Premier League log and if the season were to end today they would be relegated. Gareth Southgate's squad were able to reach this stage of the FA Cup as a result of a 2-0 win at home to West Ham United.
Live FA Cup
Everton v Middlesbrough
Goodison Park, kick off 1600 hours
