Everton v West Brom match preview

But Albion’s head coach says his side can get a positive result at Goodison Park – if they perform to their potential for 90 minutes.

The Baggies fell to a 3-0 defeat against Leicester on their return to Premier League action last weekend.

But that result was harsh on Bilic’s men who had been the better side in the first-half, with all Leicester’s goals coming after the break.

Now they face an Everton side who have done some excellent business during the summer transfer window.

Attacking midfielder James Rodríguez has arrived from Real Madrid.

Midfield enforcer Allan has come in from Napoli while the Toffees have also signed box-to-box star Abdoulaye Doucoure from Watford.

Nevertheless, manager Carlo Ancelotti has defensive problems heading into tomorrow’s game.

With Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite injured, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane are his only fit centre-backs – two players who can be prone to mistakes.

And that is something Albion will look to exploit.

Last weekend, Bilic deployed a 3-4-3 formation for the first time since his appointment as Baggies boss.

It saw Darnell Furlong and Kieran Gibbs play as wing-backs and became a 5-4-1 when they didn’t have the ball.

And it’s likely the Croatian will go with the same plan tomorrow – with the system stifling Leicester for 45 minutes.

If they can do that for the full 90, Albion will hope the quality of Matheus Pereira, Grady Diangana and Callum Robinson will lead to them creating chances and scoring goals.

“We had a meeting this week and I told the players I was proud and delighted with their performance against Leicester up until their second goal,” Bilic said.

“We were disappointed after that.

“Our reaction wasn’t the best and we have to work on that.

“We have to now work to stretch our quality over 90/95 minutes.”

Everton finished 12th in the Premier League last season.

But Bilic admits they look a side who are now ready to compete for a place in Europe.

“Everton are a massive club,” he continued.

“The last few seasons they have tried to catch the big, big, big clubs when it comes to signing those quality players.

“They have spent a lot of money and they have bought good players.

“But in this transfer window they are also signing big names.

“Big names like Allan. He was a big name in Italy, at Napoli. They signed James. Doucoure.

“And with Ancelotti more than anybody else, they are really closing that gap – on paper at least. They have two players (Allan and Richarlison) who play for Brazil.

“They aren’t in the squad – they actually play for Brazil. I don’t think Everton have ever had that before. This is the first time I think.

“They have it on paper. Is it going to work, who knows? Hopefully not on Saturday. We are going to try and stop them.”

Bilic was signed by Everton in August 1997 and enjoyed a successful first season at Goodison Park.

But he picked up an injury at the 1998 World Cup while playing for Croatia that would eventually force him to call time on his playing career.

And he admits he is disappointed Everton never got to see the best of him as a player.

“I did, I did,” Bilic said when asked if he enjoyed his time at the club. “Off the pitch, there are beautiful people there.

“But on the pitch, unfortunately, there were big expectations.

“I signed a five-year-deal but after my first year, I basically had to quit my career because of a big injury I got during that season.

“That injury became fatal in the World Cup 98. I tried to come back for a year and-a-half but it was impossible.

“So I feel a bit sorry for that part of my career, sorry that I wasn’t able to give my best. I tried my best but that wasn’t my best because of that injury.”