Everton vs. West Ham: EPL Betting Preview

All eyes on Old Trafford this Saturday lunchtime for the title showdown but the best bet of the weekend comes 24 hours later at Goodison Park.

Making a long-term profit is all about identifying value, regardless of price, and I think Everton are still too big even at around 1.50 to get the better of West Ham on Saturday.

I’ve opposed, with success, the Hammers on their last two starts, in home defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City, and, while Zola’s boys may feel slightly more comfortable on their travels away from the pressure of the Upton Park fans, Merseyside is the last place they’d like to go at present.

Were it not for a lengthy injury list at the start of the campaign, David Moyes’ Everton would have been well in the mix for a Champions League spot with six games to go. The Toffees struggled in the early weeks of the campaign, not helped by the protracted Joleon Lescott transfer saga, but are firing now and are probably the country’s most in-form side.

It was seven wins in a row for Moyes’ men before a goalless draw at Molineux last time out and the Scottish boss is reaping the rewards of a fully fit Mikel Arteta. The Spanish midfielder, so sorely missed earlier in the term, got the second goal which sealed all three points over Manchester City while it’s now three matches since the host’s defence was breached. >

The emergence of youngsters Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling into regular first-teamers this season has also been a big plus for Everton and the former, in particular, looks to have a very bright future.

Rodwell scored a fine individual goal versus Manchester United, which came in the middle of Everton’s current run of six consecutive home wins, and I see nothing but a comfortable victory as they chase a place in next season’s Europa League, at the very least.

While Gianfranco Zola pledged his commitment to the Hammers this week he looks a troubled man on the sidelines and just one away win all season will not fill him, or his players, with much hope as they travel north.

I’ve rarely seen a team with such little flight grace the Premier League as West Ham over the past month and their slide to The Championship is unlikely to be halted on Sunday.

3pts Back Everton (vs. West Ham) @ 1.50 (Betfair)