Watford Vs Everton
Saturday 1st February 2020 – 15:00 Kick-Off
English Premier League
Pick: Watford Draw No Bet
Odds: 21/20
Bookmaker: Unibet
(All betting odds displayed in this article were correct at time of writing: 28th January 2020 at 22:00)
Preview: Clubs reborn under new management meet at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday, as second-bottom Watford host an Everton side who are now on the cusp of the top half.
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Watford Preview – Hornets to immediately bounce back from defeat?
This team’s transformation since the appointment of former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson is remarkable considering the desperate situation the 56-year-old inherited. Rock-bottom of the league, cut well adrift of safety and with one sole win accrued all season, Watford (19th – W5 D8 L11) are now level on points with 17th-placed West Ham after winning four of their eight Premier League fixtures since opting to change the man in the dugout for a second time in 2019/20.
Pearson must now guard his team against complacency, because the work at hand is far from done. The groundwork has been laid, however, which makes this weekend’s clash all the more important, as it will be the first time since their new manager arrived that this team has needed to respond to a defeat. Last week’s 2-1 loss away to Aston Villa marked a first for seven league games (W4 D2 L1) and was made all the more frustrating by conceding with almost the final kick of the match.
On the flip side, The Hornets return to Vicarage Road. Not since a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Burnley, on 23 November, has the home faithful witnessed a defeat of any kind (W3 D2 in league since). In fact, barely a goal has been conceded there recently – Wolves being the last side to do so in over seven hours, during a spell which includes victories over the aforementioned Wolves as well as Aston Villa (3-0) and Man Utd (2-0).
Everton Preview – Toffees could come unstuck on the road once more?
An opportunity to recharge some weary bodies following a typically demanding festive schedule or an extended period to stew? Depending on your perspective, Everton (12th – W8 D6 L10) not kicking a ball in a competitive setting for nearly two weeks can be either good or bad, or perhaps even a combination of both. Whichever it may be, the players should be chomping at the bit ahead of a return to action this weekend.
Even now, I still find it difficult comprehending quite how a 2-0 lead at home to Newcastle, in a game they were seemingly in full control of, somehow finished level at 2-2. Carlo Ancelotti has undoubtedly improved results during his brief time at the helm, delivering a respectable return of 11 points from 18 thus far (W3 D2 L1), but transforming a defence still prone to lapses in concentration might require a little more time.
Everton have shut out two of six opponents in the league since Ancelotti arrived – or two out of the seven when including the 1-0 aberration at Anfield versus the Liverpool kids. So they will always give teams a chance, especially with Jordan Pickford in questionable form this season. As for their prospects of clinching a win at Vicarage Road, Everton have won only twice on their travels all season long (W2 D3 L7) and just once – ironically in Newcastle (1-2) – in the previous six (W1 D2 L3).
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Betting Summary
Had this been the very start of the season, Everton being the sort of price they are now would make a lot more sense. It isn’t, though, and it almost feels as though Watford‘s resurgent form has been undervalued. One defeat in their last seven (W4 D2 L1) is at least on par with Everton’s one loss in six (W3 D2 L1), but it’s their respective form home/away that is telling. Whereas The Toffees are one win from six away (W1 D2 L3), The Hornets are five unbeaten at Vicarage Road having beaten better sides in Man Utd and Wolves, according to the league table.
Watford Vs Everton – Key Facts:
- Defeat to Aston Villa in their latest Premier League encounter was a first in seven for Watford (W4 D2 L1).
- A 2-1 loss away to Man City remains Everton‘s only league defeat under Carlo Ancelotti so far (W3 D2 L1).
- No away team has come out on top in this fixture since 2007, with Watford winning the previous three meetings at Vicarage Road – the most recent two without conceding.
So the Evens (Unibet) available on Watford Draw No Bet feels fair. I also expected Troy Deeney to be shorter than 2/1 (Betfair) – he’s scored five in seven league games and retains spot-kick duties, despite missing his most recent attempt. Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has five in six under Ancelotti, with the Italian clearly getting the best from the English forward. Both strikers to score is around 7/1 with Betfair’s Same Game Multi.
Best Betting Odds for Watford Vs Everton
Watford – 19/10 Unibet
Draw – 23/10 BetVictor
Everton – 8/5 Betway
