Carlo Ancelotti’s men have stepped up a few gears over summer with high-profile recruits on hand, chiefly in James Rodriguez, a whole new plan of attack, and a midfield bolstered by the arrival of the Brazilian, Allan, and Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucouré.
With a brand new starting XI at their disposal, the Toffees could be this season’s dark horse, especially considering how they breezed past Spurs in their opening game of the campaign. Next up on the fixture list? Newly-promoted West Brom.
Take a read of our thoughts on how this game will unfold in the predictions and betting tips below…
EVERTON VS WEST BROM PREVIEW
It’s been a tough few season’s for Everton fans and players alike. Yet under Ancelotti, things certainly seem to be picking up.
The Italian raised many brows when he accepted the role at Merseyside, but since his inception, the style of play, the quality of performance, and the tactical nouse in the back office have contributed to a new-look Everton – one that made light work of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham last week.
In a manner which Mourinho labelled the ‘lazy press’, from Rodriguez to Richarlison, the Toffees purred their way to a convincing and comfortable 1-0 defeat over Spurs, featuring a goal from the ever-impressive Dominic Calvert-Lewin – a man who racked up 13 goals last season, four of which came from headers.
If this weekends opponents, West Brom, aren’t careful, they could be on the wrong end of another one of the Englishman’s scoring habits, especially if last week’s performance against Leicester is anything to go by.
Indeed, a brace from Jamie Vardy via the 12-yard line, paired with a 56th minute Timonthy Castagne goal wrapped up the three points for the Brendan Rodgers’ men, who outfoxed their opponents in every department, from passing (604 to West Brom’s 3360 to shots on target (the solitary shot at goal compared to Leicester’s seven).
With Ancelotti’s robust midfield primed for action, and a strike-force of DCL and Richarlison relishing scoring action, the only possible prognosis in our betting tips and predictions points to another win for the Merseysiders – one that puts them right up in the top four running.
EVERTON VS WEST BROM STATS
- Only Chris Wood (14) and Harry Kane (12) have scored more headed goals in the Premier League since the beginning of the 2017-18 campaign than Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (11).
DCL in beast mode…
- Only Pep Guardiola (4/4) can boast a better 100% winning ratio on the opening weekend of a Premier League season than Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has won each of his three matches to kick-off an English top-flight season (also Frank Clark, 3).
- Since his Premier League debut in August 2018, only Andy Robertson (24) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (25) have registered more assists in the competition amongst all defenders than Everton left back Lucas Digne (12).
- The home side remains winless in all nine Premier League meetings between West Brom and Leicester (D2 L7), with only Bournemouth v Watford (10) being played more without the home side winning.
EVERTON VS WEST BROM
Scoreline prediction: Everton to win 3-0
Everton v West Brom: match preview
Everton v West Brom: probable starters in bold, contenders in light
More of the same for one manager and a fresh start for another. Carlo Ancelotti’s side and new-look midfield were highly impressive at Tottenham on the opening weekend and Everton are looking to start a season with successive league wins for the first time since 2012-13. For Slaven Bilic, by contrast, an immediate reset is required following a home defeat by Leicester that underlined the improvement demanded of West Brom. Everton are short on central defensive options with both Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite injured. Andy Hunter
Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1
Venue Goodison Park
Last season n/a
Referee Mike Dean
This season G1 Y3 R0 3 cards/game
Odds H 1-2 A 28-5 D 3-1
EVERTON
Subs from Lössl, Virgínia, Kenny, Nkounkou, Gibson, Gordon, Walcott,
Iwobi, Bernard, Davies, Sigurdsson, Delph, Kean
Doubtful Delph (match fitness)
Injured Holgate (toe, Oct), Tosun (knee, Oct), Gbamin (achilles, Dec), Branthwaite (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y0 R0
Form W
Top scorer Calvert-Lewin 1
WEST BROM
Subs from Bond, Button, Robson-Kanu, Grosicki, Harper, Edwards, Peltier, Kipré, O’Shea, Field, Ivanovic, Austin, Phillips, Gibbs, Gallagher
Doubtful None
Injured Hegazi (hamstring, unknown), Zohore (calf, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y1 R0
Form L