To get the lowdown on Albion’s opponents, Everton, Adam Stenning spoke to Adam Jones, who covers the Toffees for the Liverpool Echo:

Do you think Everton will finish in the top four?

As much as I'd like to say yes, I think that's honestly beyond this squad at this moment in time.

At the minute it almost seems as though no-one wants that fourth place in the Premier League going on how many sides are slipping up, but Everton's home form particularly is really holding them back.

To only get one point from matches against Newcastle, Fulham, Burnley and Crystal Palace - with respect to those sides for how well they played their respective games - is not good enough for a side to finish in the top four.

European football has been the aim for the Blues throughout the campaign though, so it's a must that they at least finish in one of the Europa League spots at the end of the season.

What have you made of the job Ancelotti has done at the club?

He's done a fantastic job with the tools at his disposal.

The fact that the first question was based around whether Everton will make it into the top four just speaks to the massive change in perception the club have undergone in the eyes of many this season.

A lot of that is down to Ancelotti especially with his strong work in the summer to bring Allan, James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoue and Ben Godfrey to Goodison Park.

He took over a mess of a squad in December 2019 after the departure of Marco Silva, despite the resurgence experienced in the brief temporary tenure of Duncan Ferugson - and he still almost had them in a European fight at one stage of 2019/20.

It will take time for Ancelotti's full impact to be felt on the squad, with more important transfers needed across the pitch, but the work that he's done with the players already at the club so far has been nothing short of brilliant.

Just look at the improvement of Calvert-Lewin, who is now a clinical poacher inside the six yard box, as the best evidence of that.

I suppose that's the least you can expect from one of the best managers in Europe, but Evertonians are delighted to see it happening before their eyes on Merseyside.

And, of course, he broke the curse at Anfield. Just had to get that a mention.

Who will be the player that Albion will need to close eye on?

It might be the obvious answer, but it's James Rodriguez.

The summer signing from Real Madrid really hit the ground running when he moved to the Premier League and is looking to find that form again after recovering fully from a calf injury that has bothered him since around October.

His display against Palace on Monday was real evidence that he was back to his best. He controlled the tempo of the match, his passing ability and close control were excellent and his goal was taken with all the quality of a world-class player.

When he's on the pitch, he's the centre of almost everything for Everton. All his teammates look for him for a moment of magic, and more often than not he's got the quality to provide it as well.

He brings the best out of the quality players around him too, particularly the likes of Richarlison and Lucas Digne who is often the recipient of a drilled long-ball over to the left flank to create a chance.

If Brighton give James too much space, then it could be game over.

How will they line-up?

Olsen, Coleman, Keane, Mina, Godfrey, Digne, Davies, Allan, Rodriguez, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison

What will the score be?

While Everton's home form has been dodgy to say the least, it's been a very different story away from home.

I've got to predict a victory for the Blues, haven't I? So I'm going for a sneaky 2-1 to send me back to Merseyside happy.