Wigan Athletic V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 4 February 2012 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: DW Stadium

Preview

After becoming only the third team this season to condemn long-time Premier League leaders Man City to defeat, Everton will fear absolutely no-one this weekend – so lowly Wigan, who they edged out 3-1 at Goodison Park back in September, should be a breeze for David Moyes & Co.

There is a definite buzz around Merseyside right now, and it isn’t all down to Tuesday’s sensational victory over Manchester City. However, that result may well have signalled the dawn of a bright new era at Goodison, with the club going to such extremes as spending hard-earned cash in the winter transfer window – something we’re not used to seeing from Everton – as Moyes brought in three new recruits, two of which played a significant role in midweek, while the other is a former favourite around these parts.

The unveiling of Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic during half-time gave the whole place a lift, for a fee believed to be in the region of £6million, and within 15 minutes another new face had put Everton into the lead, against the side who were 4/9 favourites to lift the Barclay’s Premier League at the end of the season – Darren Gibson slamming home what proved to be the winner on a night when one of England’s most iconic clubs was, as clichés go, rocking.

As it goes, Wigan were also rocking in midweek (for entirely different reasons of course). Latics manager Roberto Martinez placed some of the blame for Tuesday’s comprehensive 3-1 defeat to Tottenham down to transfer speculation regarding some of his prized assets, with Victor Moses and Hugo Rodallega among those linked with a move away from Greater Manchester. So he, along with the consensus, will be delighted the window has slammed shut, in time for a crucial run of fixtures, all of which are winnable starting with Everton at home this weekend.

Tuesday’s defeat was Wigan’s fourth in succession in the league and left them without a win in eight Premier League matches, since beating West Brom 2-1 at The Hawthorns on 10 December. They are also out of the FA Cup as well, bowing out to League Two Swindon at the very first hurdle. So it genuinely is all doom and gloom around the DW Stadium at present, where Wigan have won just one solitary league game all season (W1 D4 L6) and have a similarly miserable record in this fixture: the Latics have faced Everton six times at home in the PL, with a record of one win, two draws and three defeats.

Baring all this in mind, you’d have to be one brave punter to opt for the hosts, who, even at generous odds of 5/2 (Bet365) at home, are seemingly impossible to back. Now, I wouldn’t normally advocate a bet of Everton at the best of times, and certainly not when they’re favourites, but Tuesday’s stunning result coupled with several eye-catching additions has given everyone at the club a new leash of life, or so it would seem. The Toffees actually look sweet at 5/4 (SkyBet).

Match Facts

Head-to-Head

Last meeting: Everton were 3-1 winners at Goodison Park on 17 September thanks to goals from Phil Jagielka, Apostolos Vellios and Royston Drenthe. Franco Di Santo had equalised for Wigan, who enjoyed more of the ball but created fewer chances.

Wigan have won only two of their thirteen Premier League meetings with Everton (W2 D4 L7 – Wigan’s record in PL versus Everton), failing in their previous six attempts since a 1-0 success in November 2008.

On the six occasions that Wigan have hosted Everton in the Premier League, the Latics have recorded just one win and scored a meagre four times (W1 D2 L3 / GF4 GA7 versus Everton at home in PL).

Wigan

It is eight Premier League matches without a win for Wigan after their 3-1 loss to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, with the Latics now four-points adrift of safety at the very foot of the table (W3 D6 L14 – overall record in PL this season).

Wigan have the poorest home record in the top-flight, registering a meagre 7 points from a possible 33, and are the only team not to have managed two or more victories on their own patch so far this season (Wigan home record: W1 D4 L6 / GF10 GA21).

No team has plundered fewer goals than Wigan (20), who have scored one goal or fewer in 18 of 23 PL games this season – and in 9 of their 11 matches at the DW Stadium.

On a similar note, no team has conceded more goals than Wigan (48), who have shipped 18 goals in six PL matches since Boxing Day and conceded on average 1.90 goals per home game.

Everton

Victory over Manchester City last time out (1-0) extended Everton’s unbeaten run to three Premier League games, four in all competitions, after they dumped out Fulham in the fourth-round of the FA Cup.

Everton haven’t managed to score more than one goal in a PL game since beating Bolton 2-0 at The Reebok on 26 November, 2011 – they’ve mustered eight goals from their eleven top-flight matches since then.

A draw at Wigan and Everton’s away record would be identical to their one at home (W4 D2 L5 away from home), with the Toffees winning one of their previous five away PL matches.

Betting

Prediction: Everton to WIN @ 5/4 with SkyBet

I have to admit, I didn’t give Everton a pray against Man City. I had my reasons, mind; like, for example, how they had lost to every top-seven opposition they had faced this season previously. Moreover, I could have cited their lack of goals (just three sides – Wigan among them – have scored fewer).

The latter is still a problem (scoring), however the signings of Steven Pienaar on loan and Nikica Jelavic from Rangers on a permanent deal could solve their problems. At worst, they’ll give the whole dressing room a lift, which should be enough, you’d think, to ensure they see off a hapless Wigan team who before long will find themselves stranded at the foot of the table unless their abysmal form picks up – and fast.

This is the first of a long line of winnable games for Wigan, who have to be winning them all if they’re to stay up, as their final few games are excruciating on paper. With this in mind, I am expecting a lot better than what I saw on Tuesday, when they basically rolled over for Spurs, however the momentum is clearly with the visitors who will have confidence and self-belief – my two favourite ingredients – oozing through their veins.

Value Bet: Everton 3-1 (Correct Score) @ 22/1 with Ladbrokes

Everton don’t normally do goals – but that was before Pienaar and Jelavic jumped on board David Moyes’ meandering ship. Both could feature at Wigan, especially with so many doubtful, and both will be keen to showcase their talents in a fixture which should allow them to do just that. Everton won this fixture 3-1 at Goodison last September, a score that flattered them. I see value in a repeat, only this time I reckon they’ll be deserving of the final score.

Match Odds

Wigan – 5/2 (Bet365)

Draw – 11/5 (Ladbrokes)

Everton – 5/4 (SkyBet)

Arsenal V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 10 December 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

Like all good teams do, Arsenal responded in spectacular fashion to dropping crucial points by thrashing a sorry Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium last week. That emphatic victory came a week after they were held to a bitterly disappointing 1-1 draw by Fulham at the Emirates. So you can’t help but feel for their opponents this weekend, an Everton side whose record against the Gunners is very dispiriting in itself.

No win in their last eight top flight encounters with Arsenal, losing six, we think it is fair to say Everton plainly have it all to do on Saturday. They’ve not been victorious away to the Gunners for 15 years! Runs are there to be broken, however, as Fulham did at the end of November, when ending Arsenal’s five-match winning sequence at the Emirates in the league. Whether Everton, a side who have already slumped to defeats against Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, can pull off something similar really does remain to be seen.

Arsenal

League Position: 5th

League Form: WWWDW

Now that the group phase of the UEFA Champions League has concluded, with the Gunners assured of a place in the last-16 as group winners, Arsenal can focus all their energy and commitment on the domestic front and continuing their resurgence.

Last week’s 4-0 whitewash of Wigan at the DW was their sixth win in a seven-match unbeaten spell that has helped them rocket up the table into fifth, to within just two points of the Champions League spots. A few more like that and it won’t be long before they are named potential title protagonists. If that is to be the case, slip-ups, like the one which occurred on 27 November at home to Fulham, need to be few and far between.

Arsene Wenger made wholesale changes for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Olympiakos in Greece, so expect a completely different side to the one which slumped to a 3-1 loss to tackle Everton at the Emirates. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, defender Thomas Vermealen – the Belgian who has netted in three of Arsenal’s last four Premier League matches, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Robin Van Persie were among those who didn’t feature and should return to the starting XI.

One player who is definitely out is left-back Andre Santos. Now that does leave Wenger with a problem, as full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna are both out injured while young Carl Jenkinson is doubtful. The Brazilian injured his ankle in Greece and is likely to miss all of Arsenal’s festive fixtures. Abou Diaby, who made his first competitive appearance of the season at Wigan last weekend as a second half sub, is also out.

Everton

League Position: 10th

League Form: LLWWL

The Toffees were shaping as though they could potentially inflict some telling damage in this fixture, after ending the month of November with successive victories over Bolton and Wolves. Then along came Stoke, who produced an industrious display at Goodison Park to consign Everton to their third defeat in four at home. Now we’re left scratching our heads as to how competitive they can really be in a fixture which has bore next to no fruit for some fifteen years.

To register two miserly points from their previous fifteen trips to Arsenal in the league just about says all you need to know. This is an horrific fixture for Everton, who have also fared woefully against the sides directly above them in the league. Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, heck even Newcastle, have gotten the better of David Moyes’ side this season. It would be a genuine shock if Arsenal weren’t added to this growing list.

Everton’s away record stands at a mixed W3 D0 L3, though that in itself tells us a lot. Their three wins all came against sides situated in the lower reaches of the league in Blackburn (18th), Bolton (19th) and Fulham (13th), while their defeats were all routine-like at Chelsea (4th), Man City (1st) and Newcastle (6th).

Neither Sylvan Distin nor Royston Drenthe were deemed fit enough to make the bench against Stoke, so doubts remain over their possible participation at the Emirates. Distin has been back in training for a little while now and should return, meanwhile Drenthe, who scored on his last visit to London, in Everton’s 3-1 victory over Fulham, is struggling with an ankle problem.

Match Pointers

- Arsenal won home and away versus Everton last season and are unbeaten in eight Premier League meetings with the Toffees (W6 D2), who last won away from home against the Gunners in 1996.

- Each of the previous six league encounters have featured both teams scoring.

- The Gunners have won five and lost none of their last six Premier League matches at the Emirates Stadium, though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham last time out there.

- Arsenal have won six of their last seven in the league, with their most recent being a 4-0 whitewash of Wigan at the DW Stadium.

- Central defender Thomas Vermealen has three in his last four Premier League starts for Arsenal, netting in each of his last two turn outs at home.

- Everton have a mixed away record; winning three, drawing none, and losing three.

- The Toffees have failed to score on five occasions this season, and some of those include defeats at home to Liverpool and Man City as well as their loss at Man City.

Betting

Arsene Wenger could afford the luxury of naming a weakened side for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Olympiakos, which was effectively a dead rubber for them seeing as they were assured of top spot in the group before the match kicked off. A young Arsenal team were comprehensively beaten on the night, losing 3-1 out in Greece, but virtually the entire team-sheet for Saturday’s home game with Everton will be comprised of players who didn’t feature in midweek.

A revitalised, refreshed Arsenal should wipe the floor with Everton, who couldn’t conjure a single shot on target at home to Stoke last week, with Robin Van Persie, the inspired Dutchman who has so often played a leading role in dismantling the Toffees in recent Premier League encounters, at the forefront of their success – again!

Prediction: Arsenal to WIN – 4/7 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Robin Van Persie First Goalscorer – 7/2 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Arsenal – 4/7 PaddyPower

Draw – 16/5 VictorChandler

Everton – 6/1 Ladbrokes

Everton V Sunderland

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 4 December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Goodison Park

Preview

You’ll struggle to find two more passionate sets of supporters than those which follow Everton and Stoke, yet it will be a sombre atmosphere on Merseyside on Sunday as Goodison Park pays its respects to a former servant of the club, Gary Speed, who tragically passed away at the age of 42 last Sunday.

The teams, though, will no doubt do their best to put on a show, even though this IS NOT a live Sky Sports clash.

The last time Stoke were shown live was on Thursday, in their penultimate group game in the Europa League. A 1-1 draw with Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev, who last season dumped Manchester City out of the same competition, was enough to send the Potters through to the latter stages, which sparked scenes of jubilation in the Brittania terraces. However, will their midweek European exertions come back to haunt them yet again?

Eager to capitalise on any dreary minds or fatigued bodies are an Everton side chasing their third successive Premier League win, a feat they last managed way back in January 2010. Toffees chief David Moyes will doubtless be aware of his opponent’s dismal record when it comes to playing away from fortress Brittania, too: Stoke have won only one of their previous sixteen Premiership fixtures away from home, suffering twelve defeats and failing to even score on ten occasions.

Everton won last season’s corresponding fixture 1-0. With Stoke’s woeful track record on the road and with Everton hardly the most reliable of sorts, and certainly not the most prolific, we can expect another tight, low scoring affair on Merseyside.

Everton

League Position: 9th

League Form: WLLWW

With six points registered from their last two matches, Everton are gradually building momentum – although we have been here before, umpteen times in fact. A third consecutive victory on Sunday though, at home to Stoke, and it will be their longest winning streak for over a year, though more importantly it would put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Back-to-back wins at home to Wolves (2-1) and away to Bolton (0-2) finally sees Everton heading in the right direction, upwards. They now sit ninth in the table, six points shy of the European places – which are well out of their reach this season – but a healthy seven clear of the bottom three.

David Moyes will be keen to guard against complacency, however. While another set of three points would consolidate their position in the top half of the table, defeat could see them fall as many as five places.

Everton have yet to lose a Premier League home game versus Stoke, winning two and drawing one of their three meetings so far. Yakubu scored their winner last season in a narrow 1-0 success, and there are serious question marks over who will pop up and score the winner on Sunday, as scoring remains an achilles heel of theirs – still! Which is why Moyes may opt to start with Greek forward Apostolos Vellios up top, with the 19-year-old having netted three after emerging from the bench this season.

Defenders Phil Neville and Sylvan Distin are both doubts for David Moyes, although both should be available. Jack Rodwell is another rated doubtful and his inclusion in the squad is less likely.

Stoke

League Position: 12th

League Form: LLLLW

Stoke simply don’t do travelling in the Premier League. It really is as simple as that. So Sunday’s game with Everton, at Goodison Park, represents a stern challenge for a buoyant Potters side who on Thursday booked their place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League with a hard-earned draw at home to Dynamo Kiev.

The above result is one of the main reasons why Stoke lack any sort of betting appeal in this fixture. Although Tony Pulis did ring the changes from the side which thumped Blackburn 3-1 in their last league game, his team weren’t half given the run around on Thursday by an accomplished Ukrainian outfit whose ball retention was superb. The final result was greeted by scenes of celebration, but the match itself will have taken a lot out of the players.

Of course, Pulis will once again rotate for the trip to Goodison. The fact he doesn’t have any major absentees is also a big positive. But a selection who did feature in midweek will have to play some part, particularly those in defence and midfield, and so fatigue could play a major role in a fixture Stoke don’t have the best of records in anyway; they’ve only taken one point from a possible nine of their three visits to Everton in the Premier League.

Even more ominous is Stoke’s away record in the Premier League. Just one win in their last sixteen away from fortress Brittania is astonishing, but the fact twelve of those were defeats is alarming, and that does include each of their last four. Moreover, the Potters slumped to emphatic defeats away at Sunderland (4-0) and Bolton (5-0) days after competing in Europe.

Match Pointers

- These two clubs have met six times in the Premier League; Everton are out in front with three wins, the last coming in last season’s Goodison Park encounter which finished 1-0 to the hosts, with Stoke triumphant on just the one occasion, though it was the most recent – a 2-0 win at the Brittania January.

- Everton hosts this fixture on the back of successive league wins, putting both Wolves (2-1) and Bolton (0-2) to the sword.

- Four of Everton’s seven goals at Goodison Park this season were netted by defenders; Phil Jagielka (2) and Leighton Baines (2).

- Stoke ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats when beating Blackburn 3-1 at home last week.

- The Potters have lost their last four away league matches, three without scoring, conceding 14 goals.

- In their last sixteen Premier League games away from home, Stoke have managed just one win (W1 D3 L12).

- Stoke have scored the joint-fewest number of away goals in the top flight (3).

Betting

You know you’re out of sorts when your only league win in over a month is against rock-bottom Blackburn, the team just about everyone has beaten this season. Well that’s the current situation with Stoke, who before last weekend’s tidy 3-1 win over Steve Kean’s ailing side had suffered four defeats on the bounce. Throw in their atrocious record when playing away from home in the league immediately after playing in Europe, as well as their current run of four consecutive away defeats, and you can see where I’m heading.

Usually I wouldn’t advise backing Everton at odds on, not under any circumstance, but we have to make an exception on this occasions. The Potters are consistently woeful on their travels and have even been prone to shipping bucket loads of goals, which is uncharacteristic of them. I don’t see them suffering another heavy loss, as Everton don’t do goals, but I suspect Thursday’s exertions will take their toll up against a fresher batch of legs in the form of David Moyes’ reinvigorated charges.

David Moyes is reportedly set to ditch misfiring Louis Saha – at long last – with Greek youngster Apostolos Vellios in line for his first Premier League start of the campaign. The 19-year-old is a powerful figure, boasting fantastic upper body strength, and has displayed a knack of being in the right place at the right time, which is what Everton need at this moment, because they have players willing to burst a gut down the flanks. Vellios could be a decent goalscorer punt, either first or any time.

Match Outcome: Everton to WIN – 3/4 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Apostolos Vellios to Score – 11/5 PaddyPower

Match Odds

Everton – 3/4 PaddyPower

Draw – 13/5 Bet365

Stoke – 19/4 StanJames

Everton V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 19 November 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Goodison Park

Preview

Wolves failed to record a Premier League victory in the months of September and October, going seven matches in all without recording a win, but are targeting back-to-back victories in November when they travel to Everton this weekend hoping to build on their 3-1 trouncing of rock-bottom Wigan before the break. That win catapulted Mick McCarthy’s men out of the relegation places, and another could see them surge into the top half of the table for the first time since the beginning of September.

The hosts for this fixture are an Everton team currently in disarray following a torrid period of fixtures. Five defeats in six was to be expected in many ways considering who they were up against, but that hardly softens the blow. Now the Toffees find themselves tittering above the relegation places, with defeat to Wolves on Saturday, coupled with a Bolton win elsewhere, enough to consign them to spell in the bottom three.

The result has a large bearing for both teams then, who have hardly been accustomed to winning matches this season. And that leads me rather nicely onto my next golden nugget: the previous two meetings at Goodison both ended in 1-1 draws – though Everton, who have played one game fewer than most, did win the last fixture between these two sides handsomely; goals from Phil Neville, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Jermaine Beckford sealed a comfortable 3-0 success for David Moyes’ men.

Everton

League Position: 17th

League Form: LLWLL

There won’t be many sides who can claim they’ve had it tougher over the past month or so than David Moyes’ Everton, whose team came face to face with just about every team worth their salt between the end of September and early November. So they’ll appreciate a visit from Wolves this weekend, a team which has won only one of its previous eight league matches and whom last beat Everton on Merseyside way back in 1979.

The ideal fixture in which to mount a revival then, as Everton could certainly do with an upturn in fortunes. A 2-1 reverse at Newcastle just before the recent break for internationals was their fifth in six games, having previously suffered defeats at the hands of Chelsea (3-1), Liverpool (0-2), Man City (2-0) and Man Utd (0-1), leaving them occupying the last position of safety above the dreaded relegation zone.

However, Everton have failed to get the better of Wolves in each of the previous two Goodison meetings, though they did spank Mick McCarthy’s side 3-0 as recently as April. They’ll also take a lot of heart from their battling display versus Manchester United last time out, even if it was in vein in a 1-0 loss.

Plus the emergence of Jack Rodwell on the international stage, who was accompanied by team-mate Leighton Baines in the starting line-up on Wednesday for England in an international friendly with Sweden at Wembley, should inject some confidence and vigour into a team urgently in need of a boost, after collecting just three points from a possible eighteen.

Scoring remains Everton’s achilles heel, though. Jack Rodwell’s solitary strike at St James’ in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle was only their fifth in six games, failing to net in half those games. With an ageing, injury prone Louis Saha posing as their one and only recognised striker, a lack of goals hardly comes as a surprise.

Wolves

League Position: 13th

League Form: LLDLW

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is hopeful of having top scorer Steve Fletcher available for Saturday’s trip to Goodison to face out of sorts Everton. The striker had been suffering with a calf problem but return to first-team training earlier in the month and is now primed for his first start in over a month.

The return of Fletcher is a massive boost for Wanderers, who have found goals scarce to come by in his absence. Before their 3-1 victory over Wigan, with goals coming from David Edwards, Stephen Ward and Jamie O’Hara, Wolves had conjured just five goals in a eight-game winless run that contained six defeats.

Banishing their drought was of huge importance, as Wolves were running the risk of becoming stranded at the foot of the table had their rut continued. Mick McCarthy had every confidence his team would do so at home to Wigan in their last match, and his players repaid his faith with a timely win over survival rivals Wigan at Molineux.

Now Wolves are within a win of potentially leaping back into the top half of the league, though they’ve not won a competitive match at Goodison Park for over 40 years. Moreover, there is still the not so small matter of having a three-match losing streak away from home hanging over them, having lost at Liverpool (2-1), Man City (3-1) and West Brom (2-0).

Mick McCarthy’s side have been victorious on the road this season, but it’s up to you how much you read into their 2-1 victory away at struggling Blackburn on the opening day of the season. Their performance away at league leaders Man City at the end of last month was certainly eye-catching, with the Wolves manager gutted at the end of the game that his team didn’t at least take a point away from their visit to Manchester.

Match Pointers

- There has been nothing to choose between these two teams in recent meetings, with three of the previous four ending in draws. The last two meetings staged at Goodison Park both ended 1-1.

- Everton did win their most recent league meeting with Wolves though, winning 3-0 at Molineux back in April.

- Not since September 1979 have Wolves recorded a league win over Everton on Merseyside, with Everton winning three of six since.

- Everton (W3 D1 L6) have lost five of their previous six Premier League matches, including the last two at home without scoring.

- Wolves (W3 D2 L6) ended a run of seven games (D2 L5) without a win when beating Wigan 3-1 at home right before the international break.

Betting

Few have frustrated me more over the years than Everton. This fixture in particular ignites terrible memories, seeing as I tipped the Toffees to triumph in each of the previous two seasons at home to Wolves. Both encounters finished 1-1 and it could pay to back the hat-trick on Saturday.

While Everton are languishing just above the relegation zone after a dire sequence of results, Wolves are invigorated after winning their first league game in over two months at home to Wigan last time out. So I expect to see a rejuvenated Wanderers produce a typically dogged display at a ground where they do have a knack of grounding results, in recent times anyway, despite not actually winning at Goodison Park in 42 years.

Wolves hadn’t won at Anfield in God knows how long, but then they went and capitalised on the Reds woes by winning 1-0 back in December of last year. Could they pull off something similar just a mile down the road? It’s certainly worth chancing, in my opinion.

Match Outcome: Wolves to WIN @ 11/2 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: Steven Fletcher to Score @ 4/1 Unibet

Match Odds

Everton – 4/7 StanJames

Draw – 14/5 VictorChandler

Wolves – 11/2 Ladbrokes

Chelsea V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday 15 October, 2011 – 17:30 (GMT)

Venue: Stamford Bridge

TV Coverage: ESPN

Preview

Stamford Bridge has been something of a fortress in recent times for Chelsea, so reports confirming fans’ worst fears, that the club are indeed considering a move away from their spiritual home, has understandably rocked the local community. But the Blues must go with the times if they’re to compete financially with their domestic and continental rivals.

The whole thing will seem like a slap in the face for Everton. The Toffees are so cash-strapped, David Moyes couldn’t afford to make a single signing in the summer, despite the sales of Yakubu, Jermaine Beckford and Mikel Arteta. Yet their Premier League rivals are contemplating building an extravagant, swanky new stadium. It perfectly surmises where these two clubs are at this precise moment in time, which is poles apart. That hasn’t always tolled on the pitch, however.

Despite the obvious disparity between the two sets of players, Everton have managed to hold their own in this fixture in recent times – and then some, on occasions. So much so that Chelsea have just one solitary win to their name in the pair’s last nine league meetings, while the last six at Stamford Bridge have all ended in draws. And who could forget the last, as Everton ousted Chelsea from the FA Cup after prevailing on penalties in February. Just two months later, Everton would record a 1-0 success at Goodison Park.

So make no mistake about it, this result is by no means a formality, despite the differing directions at which the two clubs are heading, where they are in the table or even the location of the fixture. This is a contest Everton thrive in, and invariably surpass all expectations.

Chelsea

League Position: 3rd

League Form: WWLWW

The timing of recent internationals couldn’t have been any worse from a Chelsea standpoint. The Blues were building up ahead of steam before the break after thumping wins over Swansea and Bolton that saw them plunder no fewer than nine goals. Plus either side of those morale boosting victories was a hard-earned point away to Valencia in the Champions League. So it will be a case of getting straight back on the horse for the Blues this weekend, although that may not be straightforward against one of their more troublesome opponents.

Everton have caused Chelsea more problems than most over the years, with their record at Stamford Bridge very impressive without being overly spectacular. Chelsea haven’t lost at home to Everton in the Premier League since 1994, a run of sixteen matches, but the previous five West London encounters have finished all-square. I doubt there are any teams in world football who can boast a record of five-games unbeaten at the formidable home of the Blues? But you do, however, get the distinct impression that Andre Villas-Boas isn’t the sort of man to concern himself with spooky streaks or bogey reputations, or the type of manager who would accept anything less than a fourth consecutive home win against a side who come into this fixture on the back of two successive defeats.

On the whole, Chelsea’s home form this season has been a little sketchy despite boasting a 100% record. Wins over West Brom and Norwich were far from convincing, but it would appear the cobwebs have well and truly been shaken since. Their last league game at home was a 4-1 hammering of Swansea, a match which did include a sending off for Fernando Torres, who will serve the second of his three-match suspension on Saturday meaning Daniel Sturridge, scorer of two as Chelsea ran riot at The Reebok directly before the international break, will continue to partner Didier Drogba in a three-pronged attack with Juan Mata.

Chelsea’s 5-1 hammering of Bolton last time out was as emphatic a win as they come, with Frank Lampard slamming home a hat-trick in a game Chelsea could have struck double figures had they REALLY applied themselves. A repeat performance on Saturday, with the same intensity and ruthlessness to their play, would make them almost impossible to stop. By the same token, their performance will have to be something special if they’re to trouble a stubborn Everton backline which held out for the best part of an hour away to Man City last month.

Everton

League Position: 13th

League Form: WDWLL

Stopping the rot is what David Moyes is tasked with this weekend. Back-to-back 2-0 losses at the hands of neighbouring rivals Liverpool and title-chasing Manchester City has left the Toffees in a bit of a rut, an expected one to some degree but worrying nonetheless, and halting the slump won’t be easy against an in-form, dare I say imperious Chelsea side who, in stark contrast, are searching for their third straight victory in the Premier League.

Daunting stuff then for the Merseysiders, who can at least take some heart, plenty in fact, from their impressive record at Stamford Bridge. On each of their previous five visits to West London, Everton have come away with a point to show for their efforts, and talisman Tim Cahill believes he and his team-mates must produce another gritty performance at The Bridge if they’re to extend their unbeaten away run against the three-time Premier League champions. One similar to their display away at Man City recently, perhaps?

Had it not been for a huge deflection off of defender Phil Jagielka, Everton might have registered a point from last month’s visit to Eastlands, as up till then they had contained Manchester City’s lavish stars comfortably. David Moyes might be inclined to adopt similar tactics on Saturday in a desperate bid to try and nullify a Chelsea attack which plundered nine goals in its last two league games. Their biggest problem, however, is how they cause problems at the other end of the pitch.

A lack of goals has been Everton’s downfall for quite some time now, since the start of last season in fact. Moyes’ striking options are limited to say the least, with Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellani often deployed as makeshift forwards, to little avail. Six goals from their first six games isn’t the worst tally you’re ever likely to see, but poignantly just one of those were netted on their travels, and even that was a dubious penalty away at Blackburn, in a game they never looked liked scoring, as was the case at Man City when Tim Cahill, playing as a lone striker, formed the shape of a forlorn figure all afternoon – until he was replaced by Louis Saha who performed the same statuesque act.

So I do worry for Everton this weekend, as while they were comfortably beaten by Man City and Liverpool, they could be in for a spanking at Stamford Bridge.

Match Pointers

- The previous five Premier League meetings between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge have ended in draws, three finishing 1-1.

- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League home games (W9 D1 L0) but are without a clean sheet in their last five at Stamford Bridge.

- Everton have lost their last two league matches 2-0, away to Man City and at home to Liverpool.

- The Toffees are also without a win on their travels versus Chelsea in the Premier League since a 1-0 win back in 1994, losing on seven of their sixteen visits since (W0 D9 L7).

- Chelsea lie 3rd in the table (W5 D1 L1 – GF17 GA8) while Everton languish in 13th (W2 D1 L3 – GF6 GA8).

Betting

Everton have posed Chelsea a few problems in recent times, including knocking them out of the FA Cup on penalties in last season’s FA Cup, but I’m struggling to pinpoint where, how or who will inflict any damage to a Chelsea defence which hasn’t keep a clean sheet in any of its last five home games. In contrast, I can see Chelsea’s star-studded forward line, which is in sparkling, free-scoring form, giving Everton custodian Tim Howard a torrid afternoon. I just don’t see how Everton will cope or match the creativity of Chelsea, who boast the marauding runs from midfield of Frank Lampard and Ramires as well as two bang-in-form wingers in Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge, who aren’t short of pace and were exceptional in Chelsea’s demolition of Bolton last time out.

A comfortable home win for me as Everton’s impressive drawing sequence at Stamford Bridge comes to an emphatic end.

Match Outcome: Chelsea to WIN @ 4/11 WilliamHill

Value Bet: Chelsea 3-0 (Correct Score) @ 10/1 888Sport

Match Odds

Chelsea – 4/11 WilliamHill

Draw – 4/1 Bet365

Everton – 10/1 BetFred

Everton V Aston Villa

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 10 September 2011 (15:00 GMT)

Venue: Goodison Park

Preview

With everything that transpired on transfer deadline day involving Everton, there is a danger of Aston Villa being the forgotten team at Goodison Park this weekend. The Villains have made an encouraging start to the new campaign with five points from their first three games, in an unbeaten sequence of course, while their record against the Toffees – especially at Goodison in recent times, is imperious. Yet all eyes will be on the home side as David Moyes & Co begin life without a certain Spaniard.

The Toffees almost went the entire summer without doing any business before a hectic final day ensued. Spanish play-maker Mikel Arteta was sold to Arsenal for a fee believed to be in the region of ten-million, with pundits describing it as a dark day in the club’s recent history. Considering David Moyes managed to use some of the funds to bring in Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi on season-long loans, not to mention offload deadwood in the form of Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu, in my opinion it could be the dawn of a bright new era.

As influential as Arteta has been over the years for Everton, his recent career on Merseyside has been curtailed by injuries, while he hasn’t been the outstanding architect in midfield that he once was for quite some time now. So adjusting to life without the Spaniard shouldn’t be difficult. What will test their resolve is this weekend’s home encounter with a Villa side who have been quick out of the blocks – registering five points from a possible nine in a three-game unbeaten sequence in the league – and who have cause for optimism ahead of their milestone twentieth visit to Goodison Park in the Premier League.

Over five whole years have passed since Aston Villa were last beaten by Everton in the Premier League, during which the Birmingham-based outfit have won four of the last ten meetings – the remaining six ending in draws – with their last taste of defeat coming in March of 2006, which was incidentally when they last failed to pick up any points in this fixture: Villa have won two and lost none of their five most recent visits to Goodison Park.

A dent in the visitors’ claims could be Everton’s new-found confidence having recently made a return to winning ways with a 1-0 win away at Blackburn just before the international break. However, Moyes’ team were anything but convincing, conceding two penalties in a sloppy but defiant performance, yet somehow managing to ground out an undeserved 1-0 victory courtesy of Mikel Arteta’s stoppage time spot-kick. Villa, meanwhile, could only muster a 0-0 draw with Midlands rivals Wolves at Villa Park, halting their momentum ever so slightly.

Still, if Alex McLeish can get Darren Bent fit in time – the England international who scored twice in this fixture for Villa last season but is currently struggling with a groin injury that forced him to withdraw his services for his country during the week – then Villa, with their promising start and proven record at Goodison, could be of value to make it two home defeats on the spin for the Toffees at home, who were humbled by newly promoted QPR in their belated first game of the season last month.

However, it is worth pointing out that Everton have only lost one of their previous twelve at home in the league (W7 D4 L1) while Villa took maximum points from just four of their nineteen away league games last term. Conundrum!

Match Pointers

Met 38 times in Premier League – Villa triumphant in 18 with Everton winning just 7.

Everton won only six of nineteen at home to Villa, who have reigned supreme at Goodison in PL on as many occasions.

Villa haven’t lost a league fixture to Everton for over five-years, not since March 2006, winning four and losing none of previous ten meetings.

Darren Bent scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park last season.

The Toffees have won seven and lost just one of last twelve at home in league.

Villa, meanwhile, are without defeat in six in Premier League (W3 D3), but have won only three times away from home in last sixteen.

Tim Cahill has netted six times for Everton against Villa in PL.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has five goals in eleven appearances against Everton in PL.

Betting Verdict

Aston Villa felt they should have won last season’s encounter at Goodison, and would have had Leighton Baines not converted from the spot with seven minutes of the game remaining. Darren Bent scored twice in that game and Saturday’s outcome could hinge on whether the England striker recovers in time from a niggling groin injury that kept him out of his country’s recent Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Wales.

I’ve not been impressed with Everton up till this point. Against QPR they were toothless, as they were last season and the season before that, while no one really knows quite how David Moyes’ men escaped Ewood Park with all three points – Blackburn having missed two penalties before Mikel Arteta slotted home the winner from the same 12-yards in stoppage-time. Unless they’ve improved ten-fold since the international break, I’m struggling to find a case for them.

Villa, on the other hand, have been indifferent. Resilient away at Fulham (0-0) on the opening weekend, a handful at home to Blackburn (3-1) the following weekend, but really disappointing in their Midlands Derby with Wolves (0-0) at Villa Park. Can they really be trusted? Can either? I’m not so sure. Another draw for me!

Royston Drenthe could be the standout value to score on his Everton début, with a vacancy now in the midfield courtesy of Arteta’s sudden departure. The 24-year-old has blistering pace and may take the Villa defence by surprise.

Match Prediction: Draw – 23/10 SkyBet

Value Bet: Royston Drenthe to Score – 6/1 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Everton – 11/10 Boylesports

Draw – 23/10 SkyBet

Aston Villa – 3/1 VictorChandler

Everton V Queens Park Rangers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 20th August 2011; 15:00 GMT
Venue: Goodison Park

Preview - Notoriously slow starters are Everton that they’ve not won any of their previous three opening day Barclay’s Premier League fixtures. The Toffees will seek to put the brakes on such a torrid run when they host newly-promoted QPR on Saturday, who were emphatically put in their place by Bolton in their first top-flight fixture for over fifteen-years just seven days ago.

So it’s fair to say the opening weekend didn’t go according to plan for neither Everton or QPR. The Blues were supposed to take on Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on the Saturday, but that fixture had to be postponed for safety reasons, while Queens Park Rangers were walloped 4-0 at Loftus Road by Bolton to leave Neil Warnock’s men propping up the table after the first round of fixtures.

Rangers will be hoping to get back on track with the visit to Goodison Park, a ground manager Neil Warnock confessed he couldn’t wait to visit upon sealing promotion from the Championship last season. I’m not so sure the trip will be as enjoyable for the former Sheff Utd manager as he likes to think, especially if his side’s second half capitulation at home to Bolton was anything to go by. The Londoners did, however, register the joint-highest number of points on their travels in the Championship last season, winning 10 of 23 away from home.

That said, Everton fans have once again been left discouraged by the summer’s activities, or lack or it I should say. Blues boss David Moyes hasn’t added a single new face to his squad since their 7th-place finish at the end of last season, meaning the 48-year-old Glaswegian, who is embarking on his tenth consecutive season in the Premier League with the Merseyside club, is left with a squad which is undoubtedly a great deal stronger than many of his rivals, and boasts a number of high-quality individuals, but simply hasn’t got anywhere near to fulfilling its exciting potential.

One criticism of Everton in recent times has been their slow-starting tendencies; they haven’t won more than four league games before Christmas in either of the previous two campaigns, and in both they were defeated in their opening fixture – hardly an uplifting way to start. So the visit of QPR, a club who have spent almost as little as them during the off-season, provides David Moyes & Co with a glorious opportunity to finally secure that magical winning start which could turn out to be the catalyst for something special in 2011-2012. 

Betting – This will be the pair’s first competitive encounter for a little over fifteen years, since QPR were 3-1 winners at home in April of 1996. But Everton are expected to avenge that defeat on Saturday when the two clubs renew acquaintances at Goodison Park, a ground where Everton haven’t lost in the league since November 2010, winning seven of their last elevenon Merseyside in an unbeaten sequence.

But QPR were an effective outfit on their travels last season, albeit in the Championship. Rangers recorded 10 wins from their 23 away fixtures and collected 39 points from a possible 69. Moreover, Warnock’s men also boasted the leanest defence away from home, with Paddy Kenny keeping 13 clean sheets and conceding just 17 – on average less than a goal-per-game.

As a direct result, Everton are firm favourites to register all three points on Saturday.

Match Odds:

Everton – 11/20 WilliamHill

Draw – 3/1 WilliamHill

QPR – 6/1 PaddyPower

Verdict - You cannot dispute that QPR were ultimately the best team in the Championship last season – they did, after all, finish top. However, Neil Warnock, quite simply, hasn’t strengthened enough during the off-season; the 62-year-old still has a squad of Championship stature, one which was found wanting as soon as Bolton asserted themselves at Loftus Road last weekend.

It almost doesn’t bare thinking about should Everton take an early lead at Goodison. The Toffees are unbeaten at home in the league for nine months – 7 wins and 4 draws – and are unlikely to take their foot of the gas once in the ascendancy, as they’ll know full well, after watching Rangers seven days ago, that their opponents don’t take much to cave-in and collapse mentally.

Having not won any of their previous three opening day fixtures, I’m all over David Moyes’ side to finally end their first fixture blues with a comfortable win over QPR this weekend.

Match Prediction: Everton WIN – 11/20 WilliamHill
Value Bet: Everton 4-0 (Correct Score) – 25/1 Boylesports

Chelsea

Manager: Andre Villas-Boas
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Star Man: Fernando Torres
2010-2011 Position: 2nd

Summer Transfer Activity (Notable Transfers)

Arrivals – Thibaut Courtois (Out on loan), Romelu Lukaku, Oriol Romeu,

Departures – Fabio Borini, Nemanja Matic, Jeffrey Bruma (loan), Jack Cork, Michael Mancienne, Yuri Zhirkov

Overview: One of the biggest stories of the entire summer was Andre Villas-Boas leaving Europa League winners and Portuguese champions FC Porto for Chelsea and Stamford Bridge, with the 33-year-old out to achieve what all seven previous managers that were appointed by club owner Roman Abramovich could not – to bring the Champions League trophy to West London.

The Portuguese tactician, who some have already likened to former Stamford Bridge favourite Jose Mourinho, must first mould a squad that underachieved last season into winners, as any Chelsea manager who ends a campaign empty-handed tends to end up out the door under Abramovich.

The good news for Villas-Boas is that he will inherit a very talented squad, one that on its day will be more than a match for any of their league rivals this season. The bad news is that it’s an ageing squad with plenty of in-house politics. Nevertheless, he has a squad capable of big things; defensively Chelsea are always  rock-solid while up front they have an embarrassment of riches. Having said all that, their expensive strike-force of Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and £50M-rated Fernando Torres was just that last season, embarrassing.

So, Chelsea’s latest coach certainly has his work cut out if he’s to continue where he left off at Porto. Funnily enough, I do think this one will be given time, even if he doesn’t win a single trophy in his first season in charge. But at the very least, the fans, and more importantly Roman Abramovich, expect Chelsea to be competitive on all fronts in 2011-2012 – especially in the league, after relinquishing their Barclay’s Premier League title to rivals Manchester United last season.

CHELSEA TO BE CROWNED PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: 3/1 TOTESPORT

Everton

Manager: David Moyes
Stadium: Goodison Park
Star Man: Leighton Baines
2010-2011 Position: 7th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals - NONE

Departures – James Vaughan (Norwich)

Overview: You’ll struggle to find a club with more traditional values than Everton, the Merseysiders who were once a dominant force in the English game during the 80′s – 1987 being the year when the Toffees were last crowned the best team in the land – but have since plummeted down the pecking order at a rapid rate of knots.

In the present, Everton are an enigma; a club which possess a rich squad of quality players, yet continue to under perform year in, year out. As a result, funds have completely dried up, to the point where David Moyes hasn’t spent a single penny during the summer – he hasn’t introduced a single new signing to his squad since the end of last season – and you do wonder just how long it is before David Moyes and this squad rich in potential run out of time and decide to go their separate ways.

I predict that unless the Blues either secure a major trophy this season or finish in the European places, one of either two things will happen: David Moyes will leave his post or the Scot will have to cash-in on one of his star men, probably either, or even both, Leighton Baines or Jack Rodwell. And then it really will be back to the drawing board for Moyes.

The sheer fact we’re even discussing Everton and success in the same sentence is proof of how highly I rate this Everton team. Everyone in the land recognises that this Everton team are capable of achieving something special; all the raw ingredients are in place, the one thing that’s missing is a regular scorer up top. So now more than ever, with this previously exciting Everton project potentially on the brink, Evertonians need Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford, the latter has the more scope for improvement, to really shine this season and score in a more frequent manner.

EVERTON TOP-SIX FINISH: 11/4 SKYBET

Fulham

Manager: Martin Jol
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Star Man: Clint Dempsey
2010-2011 Position: 8th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Marcel Gecov, Pajtim Kasami, John Arne Riise,

Departures – Kagisho Dikgacoi, Zoltan Gera, Jonathan Greening, Eddie Johnson, Diomansy Kamara, John Pantsil, David Stockdale (Loan)

Overview: A successful season at Craven Cottage is no longer just avoiding relegation. Fulham fans now expect nothing less than for the club to be knocking on the door of the European places, having competed in the Europa League for the last two campaigns, and at worst a top-ten finish. That’s because the bar has been raised by former managers Roy Hodgson, the man who led Fulham to their best ever finish in the Barclay’s Premier League of seventh in 2009-2010, and former Man City boss Mark Hughes, with the Welshman having guided the Cottagers to a highly respectable eighth last season before resigning.

So then, new Fulham boss Martin Jol has some big shoes to fill at the cottage. He was, however, the club’s original first-choice last summer, when Roy Hodgson’s departure for Liverpool meant there was a managerial vacancy at the West London club.

Jol hasn’t really been able to stamp his mark on the team just yet though, with only three players having arrived in the summer, including former Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise. But, fortunately for the Dutchman, he inherits a squad packed with experienced internationals.

I’m sure the fans would have liked to have seen a few more new faces join in the summer, just to add some excitement to the forthcoming season. That hasn’t been the case, unfortunately. But that shouldn’t stop Fulham having another steady campaign.

FULHAM TOP-TEN FINISH: 6/4 CORAL

Liverpool

Manager: Kenny Dalglish
Stadium: Anfield
Star Man: Luis Suarez
2010-2011 Position: 6th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Charlie Adam, Alexander Doni, Stewart Downing (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland)

Departures – Paul Konchesky,

Overview: The expectation levels at Liverpool are always sky-high and it will be no different this season, more so than ever before perhaps, as Kenny Dalglish spent handsomely over the summer, recruiting some of the finest home-grown talent the Premier League has to offer, in a bid to alter the club’s fortunes on the pitch following six whole years without a trophy and two years without Champions League football.

Realistically, a top-four finish has to Liverpool’s main aim this season. That isn’t to say this current crop of players aren’t capable of challenging for the title itself – something the fans are eager to see after several years of turmoil and disappointment, which was lamented back in May when arch rivals Manchester United were crowned champions of England for a record 19th occasion.

The latest players to be entrusted with bringing the good times back to Anfield are Charlie Adam, who finally sealed his switch to Merseyside from Blackpool, Jordan Henderson, the former Sunderland midfielder arriving after an outstanding 2010-2011 campaign that culminated in an England call-up, while winger Stewart Downing will add another dimension to the Liverpool attack, further complimenting lone-striker Andy Carroll, the target-man in a team now oozing creativity.

Liverpool really could be absolutely anything this year; mid-table settlers, top-four hopefuls or even, dare I say it, title contenders. Their form in the closing stages of last season under Dalglish was sublime, and it included winning results over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a resounding victory over Manchester United at Anfield. ‘King Kenny’ instilled a belief into this team that they could string wins together, that they could go to difficult venues and ground out results, and that on any given day they are definitely a match for the very best this exciting league has to offer.

LIVERPOOL TO BE CROWNED PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: 14/1 BETFRED

Everton V Chelsea

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 May 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: Goodison Park

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Preview

Just a month ago and these two were finishing the term better than anyone else. Everton were making their predictable late dash for the European places while a resurgent Chelsea were rapidly closing in on long-time league leaders Manchester United. It’s all gone Pete Tong in recent weeks however, and instead of this fixture having a huge baring on both the race for Europe and the Premiership title itself, it is now somewhat meaningless.

Only minor placings are at stake when the two meet for the fourth time in 2010/2011.

The Toffees are seven-points adrift of Merseyside rivals Liverpool in seventh and so cannot finish either above the locals or in the European places but can drop down to eighth should they fail to pick up a point on the final day and Fulham, who are three-points behind but boast a superior goal difference, beat Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

It would take a dramatic turn of events for Chelsea to relinquish their stranglehold on second, that despite the Blues dropping two-points at home to Newcastle last time out.

According to the players, Chelsea are desperate to end 2010/2011 second in the Barclay’s Premier League and unless they lose at Goodison Park, handsomely I may add, and Manchester City emphatically beat Bolton at the Reebok Stadium, with a goal swing of 12 required in order for the two to switch positions, the west Londoners will at least complete that mini objective. But it will be of scant consolation to the fans, and even more so to owner Roman Abramovich who, if rumours are to be believed, will yield the axe on current manager Carlo Ancelotti after the Italian failed to add to the club’s ever-expanding list of major honours.

The general assumption is that the players don’t want to see the back of Ancelotti. Well they didn’t do his precarious cause any good when throwing away the lead twice at Stamford Bridge last weekend, eventually drawing 2-2 with Newcastle as Chelsea’s search for a win in May continues having been beaten 2-1 by Manchester United a week previous in what was another big-game the Blues failed to bring their A-game to.

Everton also failed to do the business against United in the closing stages of the season, going down 1-0 at Old Trafford on 23 April despite a valiant defensive effort. The defeat, though, proved costly for Chelsea while it’s also had a downward spiral effect on Everton’s close-season form as well. David Moyes’ men have now registered just four points from a possible twelve, with their inconsistency issues that plagued them throughout the first half of the campaign seemingly coming back to haunt them right at the death.

But it would be typical Everton for them to bounce back from the misery of another bitter-tasting defeat, on this occasion to West Brom at The Hawthorns, and claim their second quick-fire scalp at Goodison.

In their last match at home, Everton came from a goal down to overhaul Manchester City 2-1 as the Toffees stretched their impressive run at home to ten unbeaten. Furthermore, Moyes’ team are now chasing a third consecutive win at Goodison Park in the league, and what a way to complete a hat-trick of home triumphs than with victory over second in the table Chelsea, whom have a hold over Everton when it comes to their duels in the Premier League.

While Everton may be unbeaten in their last five meetings in all competitions, including three 1-1 draws this season, a 2-1 victory at Goodison last season is their solitary triumph over Chelsea in the twenty previous Premiership encounters.

Even at Goodison, where Everton have been superb of late and haven’t lost a match in 2011, Chelsea boss the head-to-head with seven victories to Everton’s rather miserly four. Moreover, Everton have won just one of the last nine clashes on Merseyside.

Still, this always had the look of an awkward fixture for Chelsea when eyeing up their title run-in and despite all the damning evidence, which would suggest Everton are a forlorn hope with regards to coming out on top in Sunday’s contest, the Toffees will take some beating on their own patch, especially on current home form.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Form

Everton – WLDWL (Everton 2-0 Blackburn, Man Utd 1-0 Everton, Wigan 1-1 Everton, Everton 2-1 Man City, West Brom 1-0 Everton)

Chelsea – WWWLD (Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham, Chelsea 3-0 West Ham, Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea, Chelsea 2-2 Newcastle)

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Head-to-Head

Everton wins: 5
Draws: 16
Chelsea wins: 16

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
2009/2010: Everton 2-1 Chelsea
2009/2010: Chelsea 3-3 Everton
2008/2009: Chelsea 0-0 Everton
2008/2009: Everton 0-0 Chelsea
2007/2008: Everton 0-1 Chelsea
2007/2008: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
2006/2007: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
2006/2007: Everton 2-3 Chelsea

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Streaks & Trends

Everton are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Chelsea in all competitions, with the last three all ending 1-1, though one was after extra-time in an FA Cup replay.

However, the Toffees have only won four of the eighteen Premiership encounters at Goodison Park (W4 D7 L7), and just one of the last nine.

Everton haven’t lost a league match at Goodison since losing to West Brom at the end of November, winning six of their ten home games since.

In seven of their last nine home league games, Everton have scored precisely two goals including in each of their previous four.

Midfielder Leon Osman has scored in three consecutive home games for Everton.

Chelsea have lost just one of their previous seven away matches in the Premier League, though it was their most recent; a 2-1 defeat to newly crowned champions Man Utd.

That defeat to Manchester United is Chelsea‘s only reverse in the league for twelve games.

Frank Lampard has netted four goals in as many games away from home for Chelsea.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 bWIn

These two are labouring towards the finish line and it wouldn’t be a surprise in the slightest were the fourth encounter of the season between the two to end all-square.

Chelsea are favourites, and I suppose rightly so. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have lost just one of their last twelve league fixtures – just one of seven away from home – while the Italian does bring with him an embarrassment of riches in comparison to David Moyes’ threadbare squad at Everton. That said, the Toffees have been very resilient at home during the whole of 2011 and won’t want their ten-game unbeaten home run to come to an end on the final day.

Although their overall record with Chelsea is extremely poor, lately Everton have been a thorn in Chelsea’s side, having gone their last five meetings unbeaten, and with home advantage to boot I suspect Everton will be good for at least a point, though probably no more that.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Match Odds

Everton – 3.25 Boylesports
Draw – 3.40 bWin
Chelsea – 2.38 VictorChandler

West Brom V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 14 May 2011 – 12:45 (GMT)
Venue: The Hawthorns

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Preview

As far as the second half of the season goes, you won’t find two managers more delighted with how their team has fared in 2011 than Everton’s David Moyes and West Brom’s Roy Hodgson – and you could argue that their sides appear inseparable on paper this weekend.

It is almost common practice for Everton to begin the season in a lethargic manner, and it was results like in the corresponding fixture, when the two met at Goodison Park in a match the Baggies dominated and ended up comprehensively winning 4-1, that sums up just how frustrating the Toffees have been, not just this season but in seasons gone by, in the first half of the term.

Fortunately for David Moyes, his players bucked up their ideas after Christmas and are once again finishing the season like a steam train. Just four teams have gotten the better of them in seventeen fixtures in 2011 – and were it not for another frustratingly below-par display to Reading in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, Everton fans may even of had cup glory in mind. But as per usual, a squad full of promise failed to deliver, weren’t even in European contention at any stage in the season, with the supporters once again given false promise.

Still, Everton manager David Moyes has expressed a desire to at least end another bitterly disappointing campaign on a high note, by finishing as high up the table as humanely possible and to ensure the fans at least wave goodbye to 2010/2011 with renewed optimism ahead of the 2011/2012 term.

Preparations for the 2011/2012 season are already under way at West Brom, with the club set to embark upon conquering America during the summer as they gear up for another exciting term in the top-flight of English football. Of course, none of this would have been possible had it not been for the inspirational management of Roy Hodgson, who had spent the first half of the season at Liverpool where he was pelted with criticism from every corner before joining the Baggies midway through February, where he has been a revelation ever since.

During his two-and-a-half-months rein as Baggies manager, Hodgson has overseen a quite stunning turnaround in fortunes. The vastly-experienced manager, who has quite superb man-management skills, has lost just two of his eleven league games in charge and has even masterminded club-first Premiership victories over Aston Villa and Liverpool.

However, their form has tailed off recently, with their 3-1 defeat away to local rivals Wolves in the Black Country unquestionably Hodgson’s darkest moment so far, even more so because of the lacklustre quality of West Brom’s performance – especially at the back, where their marking was non-existent at times from set-plays.

It is now one in four for the Baggies, during what has been a difficult period of fixtures. But the high quality of opponent doesn’t ease up in the Premier League, with Everton – who have lost only one of their last ten – next on the agenda in a fixture where the Toffees will be desperate to avenge the 4-1 defeat at Goodison when the two teams met earlier in the season.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Form

West Brom – WLDWL (Sunderland 2-3 West Brom, West Brom 1-3 Chelsea, Tottenham 2-2 West Brom, West Brom 2-1 Aston Villa, Wolves 3-1 West Brom)

Everton – WWLDW (Wolves 0-3 Everton, Everton 2-0 Blackburn, Man Utd 1-0 Everton, Wigan 1-1 Everton, Everton 2-1 Man City)

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Head-to-Head

West Brom wins: 3
Draws: 1
Everton wins: 5

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Everton 1-4 West Brom
2008/2009: Everton 2-0 West Brom
2008/2009: West Brom 1-2 Everton

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Streaks & Trends

West Brom have lost only one of their last eight league games at home (W3 D4 L1), a 1-3 reverse to the league’s in-form team Chelsea.

The Baggies haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Premiership since 21 August, 2010 failing to do so in their last 34 top-flight fixtures.

Only Wigan (32) and Blackpool (34), who are 19th and 20th respectively in the table, have shipped more goals at home this season than West Brom (30).

Striker Peter Odemwingie has netted ten of his fifteen Premiership goals this season at The Hawthorns, scoring in three of his last four appearances at home.

Everton have been beaten in just one of their previous nine Premiership matches (W5 D3 L1), a 1-0 defeat away to champions-elect Manchester United at Old Trafford.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Value Bets

Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.91 WilliamHill

Thirteen of West Brom’s eighteen league games at home this season have produced a minimum of three goals. In fact, three of the previous four Premiership meetings between the two teams, at The Hawthorns, have finished with three or more goals.

Leon Osman to Score @ 6.00 WilliamHill

The Everton midfielder scored a quite magnificent header last weekend at home to Man City, the decisive goal in a 2-1 triumph, and the 29-year-old has scored three times against West Brom during his Everton career.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Match Prediction: Everton to WIN – 2.80 PaddyPower

Both are finishing the season strongly and although West Brom’s record at home under Roy Hodgson is very impressive – only Chelsea have won at The Hawthorns during Hodgson’s rein (W2 D2 L1) – I just fancy Everton to edge this.

Whereas the Baggies were over-awed at Molineux by a Wolves side battling to stay in the division, Everton were grounding out an eye-catching victory over Champions League hopefuls Manchester City. The Toffees have, however, encountered their fair share of problems when out travelling in the league this season but are improving more and more as the season goes and their gutsy display at the weekend to oust City displayed the abundance of spirit and tenacity in the Everton ranks.

A narrow away win for me, with 2-1 sticking out like a sore thumb as both of Everton’s two previous Premiership victories away from home over West Brom were by that precise score.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Match Odds

West Brom – 2.63 Coral
Draw – 3.40 BetFred
Everton – 2.80 PaddyPower