Share of spoils in Merseyside derby, Hammers host Hornets in Premier League
Published:
Lee Gormley | April 19, 2016
There are plenty of Premier League clashes to whet fans’ appetites during this midweek, with the most notable top-flight encounter being a tasty Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on Wednesday night.
As well as this latest derby duel between the city’s red and blue sides, West Ham United face a visit from Watford and Manchester United look to continue their push for a top four place against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool v Everton
- Premier League
- Wednesday, April 20th
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Anfield, Liverpool
- Live on Sky Sports 1
Merseyside derby encounter at Anfield
Following their Europa League heroics, Liverpool will welcome Everton for the latest Merseyside derby dust-up on Wednesday at Anfield, and proceedings look set to be tight with the previous three meetings having ended all square.
Both the Reds and Toffees are in the hunt for silverware success this season, as they battle on in Europe and the FA Cup respectively, but those other conquests are put on hold in midweek as the city gathers for another derby encounter.
Roberto Martinez’s Everton come into the clash on the back of three consecutive league draws and, with this enthralling fixture having ended level September 2014, another stalemate is 14/5 with Coral to occur this time around.
Everton enduring underwhelming run
Although, it’s Jurgen Klopp’s hosts that enter proceedings in the better form, after their incredible comeback against Borussia Dortmund, while Everton are without a domestic victory in five straight outings.
Liverpool are therefore 2/1 to edge a win to nil, with the travelling Toffees 4/1 to finally end their rut by gaining three points at Anfield – something they haven’t done since September 1999, stretching back 36 match-ups.
Brazilians Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have been in fine form of late and are 5/4 and 6/5 to strike anytime respectively on home soil, while frontman Daniel Sturridge is 4/1 to open proceedings.
Toffees marksman Romelu Lukaku has been the shining light of their stuttering season so far and the Belgian is 5/1 to bag the game’s last goal, with Ross Barkley 11/4 to net anytime.
West Ham United v Watford
- Premier League
- Wednesday, April 20th
- Kick-off: 19:45 BST
- Upton Park, London
Hammers host Hornets in capital
Slaven Bilic’s West Ham take to Upton Park in search of three points which will boost their European position prospects, though they will face a Watford side that secured a 2-0 reverse fixture last October at Vicarage Road.
That was one of only four away league defeats all season for the Hammers and they are 6/4 to triumph here without conceding, while the Hornets are 11/2 to grab three points, having dropped out of the top half in recent weeks.
West Ham have dropped off the pace in the running for a Champions League spot after such a bright campaign, with the east Londoners enduring a streak of six successive games without a win on all fronts, including a defeat to Man Utd.
Towering targetman Andy Carroll is a danger to the Hornets and is 5/4 to dispatch anytime on home turf, while PFA Player of the Year nominee Dimitri Payet is 6/4 to fire in a goal of his own.
Watford will hope striker Odion Ighalo can emulate his reverse fixture form, having bagged a brace to earn a 2-0 triumph, and he is 6/1 to open the scoring this time around. Meanwhile, his strike partner Troy Deeney is 2/1 to find the target anytime.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
- Premier League
- Wednesday, April 20th
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Old Trafford, Manchester
Red Devils contest Palace on home soil
Louis van Gaal’s Man Utd kept their hopes of securing a top four spot alive with a narrow victory over now relegated Aston Villa last time out, and they will look to down down Crystal Palace next, a team they have not lost to domestically since 1991.
The hosts currently sit four points adrift of top four rivals Arsenal, while Manchester City are only ahead of the Gunners in third on goal difference, and the Red Devils take to Old Trafford at 11/4 to prevail with both teams scoring.
Alan Pardew’s Eagles are 11/2 to earn an away victory, though, after finally securing their maiden league win of 2016 against Norwich City recently, as Jason Puncheon struck the decisive goal.
He is 11/2 to net anytime again, while fellow attacker Yannick Bolasie is 5/1 to find the target in Manchester following his equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal last time out.
For the hosts, Marcus Rashford is 3/1 to open the scoring and continue his rampant rise to prominence on home turf, with skipper Wayne Rooney available at the same price to bag a brace or more after returning from injury.
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