Kick-off: 1500, 23/10/2021
Stadium: Goodison Park
Claudio Ranieri’s return to English football proved to be a real baptism of fire as Watford were torn to shreds by a rampant Liverpool at Vicarage Road and they will hope to fare better against the blue half of Merseyside.
Watford’s decision to dismiss Xisco Munoz and bring in the experienced Italian faces an immediate examination with Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester City all to play in the next six matches.
Everton will see the Hornets as an opportunity to get back on track after defeat to West Ham and we like 29/20 for them to be leading at both half-time and full-time as our opening Everton vs Watford prediction.
A Look At Everton’s Betting Odds
The Toffees have slowed down a touch after a strong start to the season. Their impressive draw at Old Trafford was followed by a 1-0 loss at home to West Ham last weekend and they have won just one of their last four matches.
Rafael Benitez’s side look short in attack with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still sidelined and Salomon Rondon desperately short of match fitness, although Richarlison is available again.
“If you have Dominic and Richarlison, it would be easier for us to have more quality in the final third and missing these players means you have less chances to change and have fresh legs on the pitch or to change a game,” Benitez said.
“We have to learn from this game. We were quite good in the other games at home and have to make sure we come back with the same ideas and principles and intensity.”
Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have been the leading lights for Everton this season and we fancy them to make the difference against Watford.
Townsend to score first in a home win is available at 8/1 in the Everton vs Watford odds.
Last Everton line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Digne, Townsend, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi, Gray, Rondon.
Richarlison is available having missed the last five matches in all competitions due to injury.
His return is a welcome boost to Benitez, who expects Calvert-Lewin to be sidelined for another four or five weeks.
Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph have resumed training but Yerry Mina is ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury in training and Abdoulaye Doucoure is sidelined with a broken foot.
A Look At Watford’s Betting Odds
It would be unfair to judge Watford on their drubbing by Liverpool and the trip to Goodison Park will be a better test of Ranieri’s men.
In the closing stages, when Liverpool had begun to ease off, Watford showed some attacking threat and the ever-impressive Ismaila Sarr is a constant menace to opposition defences.
Ranieri said: “I watch some bad things about my team but I watch some good things, for example the last 20 minutes when we played face to face against Liverpool.
“I know before coming that I had to work very, very hard and I am ready to work.”
Watford are at their best when playing on the front foot, as evidenced in their opening-day win over Aston Villa and 3-1 victory over Norwich.
We think they will get a goal at Goodison Park and Sarr is the man to strike.
He is available at 16/5 to score any time but we fancy a home win and both teams to score at 5/2 as the last of our Everton vs Watford betting tips.
Last Watford line-up: Foster, Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Masina, Cathcart, Rose, Dennis, Kucka, Sissoko, Hernandez, Sarr.
Joshua King could return to face his old club after he sat out the thrashing by Liverpool with a knee injury.
The former Bournemouth attacker is yet to get off the mark since a summer switch but has provided two assists in five Premier League starts.
Ranieri will assess Kiko Femenia (hip) but the Italian is still without Francisco Sierralta and Christian Kabasele (both hamstring).
Additional stats
Last result:
EVERTON 0-1 West Ham
WATFORD 0-5 Liverpool
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