Kick-off: 1500, 25/09/2021
Stadium: Goodison Park
Everton’s impressive start under Rafael Benitez came to an abrupt halt last weekend but they can get back on track straight away at the expense of bottom side Norwich.
The Canaries are again struggling to make the step up to the Premier League from the Championship and there is already some unrest amongst the fans.
They have conceded goals far too easily so a home win and over 2.5 goals looks a solid pick at 13/10 as our opening Everton vs Norwich prediction.
A Look At Everton’s Betting Odds
Everton’s unbeaten start to the campaign is over after a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend but they can still be satisfied with sixth place at this early stage.
The Toffees looked on course for a point after holding out for an hour at Villa Park before conceding three goals in nine minutes.
The key now is to prove that was only a blip and get back to the form which saw them win three of their first four matches, scoring 10 goals in the process.
Benitez told Everton TV: “We know what we were and what we have done. We are doing really well, but we knew sooner or later we would have a defeat and needed to be sure everybody understood it is part of the game.
“How you react is key for the future. The fans at the last home game, for example, were quite positive when the team was not playing well.
“They know this team has the right attitude and right reaction, so they were expecting it. It has to be the same for the future.”
Everton may need to be patient but Benitez is capable of putting things right at half-time if a breakthrough is needed.
His team have scored four goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half this season; a record which only Chelsea and Manchester United can match.
Norwich have already conceded nine second-half goals so looking at the Everton vs Norwich odds, we like 13/5 for the hosts to score the most goals between half-time and the hour mark.
Last Everton EPL line-up: Begovic, Keane, Digne, Mina, Godfrey, Allan, Townsend, Doucoure, Gray, Iwobi, Rondon.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is set to return to action following the shoulder injury he sustained against Burnley on September 15 but James Rodriguez has left to join Al-Rayyan.
Andre Gomes picked up a calf problem in the EFL Cup and will not be involved, plus the Toffees still have Dominic Calvert-Lewin (quadriceps), Richarlison (knee), Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (quadriceps) and Fabian Delph (shoulder) unavailable.
A Look at Norwich City’s Betting Odds
It was hoped that a busy summer in the transfer market would make Norwich better equipped to avoid another relegation straight back to the Championship but the early signs are not good.
Manager Daniel Farke has not been helped by a difficult fixture schedule in the first few weeks of the season but five straight defeats by an aggregate score of 14-2 is a worry.
Last weekend’s visit of Watford looked a good opportunity to get off the mark but another poor defensive display resulted in a 3-1 loss.
“Let’s be honest, the first game that really mattered was our home game against Watford,” said Farke.
“Yes, we lost this game and of course this was a setback and we are at the moment if we’re really honest three points behind our plan – that’s not great.
“We’re not overly happy with it but it also doesn’t mean that we that we are relegated – so you always want to stay balanced, be self-critical and to be honest and we analyse this and we definitely have to focus, especially our defending of our own goal because we’ve conceded too many goals so far.
“It’s also important that at this moment I don’t punish my players too much, and I’m backing them, and then also to be critical and speak about what we have to improve.
“I think it’s important to be always honest but also not to bury them alive and it’s important to stay positive.”
It seems unlikely that Farke’s men will sit back and defend deep at Goodison Park as they look to get their season up and running, meaning an away goal is not out of the question.
Southampton and Burnley have both lost 3-1 here this season though and a repeat of that scoreline looks worth a shot at 12/1 for our final Everton vs Norwich prediction.
Last Norwich EPL line-up: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Kabak, Williams, Gilmour, Normann, Rashika, McLean, Pukki, Sargent.
Norwich will again be without defender Christoph Zimmermann (ankle) and midfielder Todd Cantwell (personal reasons).
Winger Milot Rashica (abductor) faces a late fitness test, while Przemyslaw Placheta is stepping up his recovery from a pre-season coronavirus infection, with full-back Sam Byram (hamstring) also still not fit.
Additional stats
Last EPL result:
Aston Villa 3-0 EVERTON
NORWICH 1-3 Watford – Teemu Pukki
Head-to-head: Norwich 0-1 Everton, Everton 0-2 Norwich, Everton 3-0 Norwich, Norwich 1-1 Everton, Everton 2-0 Norwich, Norwich 2-2 Everton
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