Everton will attempt to end a 16-month streak when they face West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides head into the fixture at Goodison Park having collected just four points from their opening six fixtures in 2022-23.
The Toffees are yet to post a win, instead recording four draws in succession, while the Hammers' solitary triumph came away at Aston Villa.
In those 12 matches combined, neither team have scored more than one goal in a single match, highlighting where both teams need to improve if they want to progress up the top-flight standings.
On the flip side, Frank Lampard has been left satisfied with the defensive efforts of his team, who have conceded just six times in as many outings.
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However, a thigh injury to in-form goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has left the Merseyside outfit up against it to end a current unwanted 16-month streak in the Premier League.
Everton will take to the pitch on Sunday afternoon looking to record back-to-back clean sheets in the division for the first time since May 2021.
On that occasion, coincidentally, Everton also kept a shutout against West Ham, albeit at the London Stadium as they prevailed by a 1-0 scoreline.
A goalless draw away at Aston Villa followed before they succumbed 1-0 at home to Sheffield United in their following fixture.
In total, Everton have gone 47 league matches without registering two clean sheets in a row, a target which is now in front of them after holding Liverpool to a 0-0 draw earlier this month.
Darren Plant
