The only remaining unbeaten side in the English Premier League -- Everton -- will be quite confident of continuing the run when they host up-and-down Newcastle United in the English Premier League on Monday night.
The Toffees started the season with three consecutive disappointing draws, but have since bounced back with a couple of wins which sees them on nine points. A win against Newcastle and they could go fourth in the table, one point above Chelsea.
Roberto Martinez still hasn't quite got his team entirely in his grasp, but in the last couple of matches there have been positive signs.
Leighton Baines has been in brilliant form, especially in front of goal, with a couple of peach of a freekicks helping them to that dramatic 3-2 win over West Ham last weekend.
If Romelu Lukaku finds the kind of form he showed at West Brom last season, Martinez will have a strong, effective and potent striker in his hands, which will make Everton even more dangerous, particularly with the talented playmakers at their disposal.
The match on Monday night will also be a special occasion for Gareth Barry, currently on loan at Everton from Manchester City, with the midfielder set to make his 500th Premier League appearance.
If he does figure on Monday, Barry will become only the tenth player to reach that mark, a commendable feat for someone who still has a few years of football left in him.
"It is difficult to explain to youngsters how important that kind of experience can be -- having that know-how to anticipate what is going to happen before it happens," Martinez told evertontv. That is what Gareth brings to the side.
"He is an incredibly well-balanced footballer with very flexible attributes from a tactical point of view but also, for me, one of the finest English players in that position that I have ever seen.
"To be approaching 500 games in the Premier League shows you his professionalism, his mentality, his character, his ability to adapt to different managers and different ways of playing.
"He always finds a way to be effective for the team and if you have won the league and the FA Cup it is clear he is somebody who is a real leader and a real role model."
At the other end, Newcastle are struggling for consistency, having lost two and won two in their first five Premier League games, and the 3-2 defeat to Hull at St. James' Park will still be hurting the side.
Alan Pardew will be pleased, though, to have seen Papiss Cisse end his goal drought in the 2-0 Capital One Cup win over Leeds United, and will be hoping the Senegalese striker continues finding the back of the net for a good time yet.
Team News: Everton will be without midfielder Leon Osman (groin) and defender Antolin Alcaraz (hamstring), while Steven Pienaar and Aroune Kone are doubts with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
Pardew has a bit of an injury headache with Jonas Gutierrez, Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi all sidelined, while doubts linger over the fitness of Yohan Cabaye, who suffered a groin problem in the defeat to Hull last week.
Key men: Everton: Romelu Lukaku will give Everton a physical presence as well as goals, but it will be Ross Barkley that makes the team tick going forward with the young midfielder showing tremendous poise and promise in the opening few games of the season.
Newcastle: The Magpies have relied on Hatem Ben Arfa for goals and creativity and that will not change with the French international needed to be at his effective best against Everton.
Where to watch
The match is set for a 12.30 a.m. (IST, Tuesday) kickoff with a live telecast scheduled on ESPN and ESPN HD. You can also watch the match line online by clicking the official link HERE.
Expected lineups: Everton: Howard; Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; McCarthy, Barry; Naismith, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku.
Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon; Sissoko, Tiote; Ben Arfa, Gouffran, Remy; Cisse.
Prediction: 2-2
