Everton

Swansea V Everton

Swansea Preview: The Swans, after comfortably securing their Premier League status for next season, are actually looking as if they are enjoying themselves now. They are in a rich vein of form, with three straight wins, including a massive three points taken against Manchester City. Impressively, two of those last three wins have come away from home. More impressively, is that the Swans have kept three clean sheets in a row as well. They have been terrific to watch all season, with their positive approach to matches, and not looking afraid to take on anyone. Can they push the boat out a little further and rack up four straight wins? Well, playing at the Liberty Stadium, you wouldn’t bet against it at the moment. With that 1-0 win over Man City recently, the Swans kept up their remarkable home form this season.

Brendan Rodger’s men have now won six, drawn six and lost just two at home all season. Their defence at home has been outstanding, as on average they concede just 0.71 goals per game at the Liberty Stadium. Very impressive. They haven’t been prolific in front of goal, but they have done enough on the back of their great defence. Swansea’s current home form reads W2 D1 L1, but that triumph over City, which actually came on the back of two home matches without a win, was a tremendous result. Remember that Swansea have also beaten Arsenal and held Spurs and Chelsea to draws at the Liberty Stadium this season. So the Swans are flying high at the moment, sitting in eighth place in the league, having scored 34 and conceded 34 for the season. They could actually pull level with Liverpool on points if they win and the Reds lose this weekend. The season has already been a success for them, can they drive home to the end of the season strongly? They should be fired along by Gylfi Sigurdsson who is hot form at the moment with five in six, and is worth looking at in your goalscorer markets.

Everton Preview: After going on a great run of seven Premier League matches without a loss, suddenly Everton’s form has taken a turn for the worse. The Toffees have suffered back to back defeats in the Premier League, getting beaten by a bit of a unflattering scoreline by Liverpool 3-0, and losing at home against Arsenal in midweek. There is nothing wrong with Everton’s game, they are comfortable on the ball, they work hard, they compete hard, but those precious winners have just not been popping up. They were a little unlucky against Arsenal in midweek, and incorrectly had a goal disallowed for offside. That means that David Moyes men haven’t officially found the back of the net in their last two outings now, and that spells problems because Everton aren’t a high scoring team, and with them seeming to have to work harder than most teams for their goals, when they dry up, they have nothing to turn to.

Yes, Everton have a pretty solid defence and hustle hard, but they haven’t won on the road in five matches now, picking up two defeats and three draws. There have only been three goals in those last five away matches for Everton as well, and all of this could play into the in-form Swansea’s hands at the moment. The Toffees average less than a goal per game away from home and while they earned themselves a 1-0 win over the Swans earlier in the season at Goodison Park, this is going to be a more uncomfortable afternoon for them. Everton’s most frequent scoreline away from home this season has been 1-1 draws (four times) and they would probably be happy to settle for that at the end of the day.

Odds: Swansea 5/4, Draw 23/10, Everton 5/2 at Bet Victor

Form (most recent result last): Swansea LLWWW, Everton WDWLL

Stat Attack:

• The Swans have lost just one of their last eight Premier League home matches
• Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored five in the last six EPL matches
• Everton have committed the most fouls in the league, Swansea have committed the fewest
• No Everton player has scored more than three goals this season

Recommended Bet: It has to be a good time to ride the wave of Swansea confidence at the moment, especially with Everton struggling away from home. The Swans are bouncing at the moment and would look at a nice Swansea -1 Asian Handicap for Evens at Bet365. The Swans could open up a five point gap over Everton in the league table with a win.

Everton V Arsenal

Everton Preview: Well, the Toffees are hard to beat, that is evident and clear. Yes, there was the anomaly in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield recently, but that has been the only defeat in the last eight Premier League matches. Everton have also been going along in the FA Cup, where they failed to beat Sunderland in the quarter finals on Saturday. So they will have to go at it again, and Everton’s loss to Liverpool has probably meant they are going to be sitting in mid-table and not pushing upwards for a top six finish. Everton are a supremely resilient team and it is to their credit that they have found so many match winning goals. One thing Everton are not, is a high scoring team. Them scoring more than one goal in a match is a bit of a rarity, and that has only happened once in their last sixteen league matches. So any-time you look at Everton, you really are looking at very narrow margins.

At home in the league, they have scored just fifteen goals in their fourteen matches, and have conceded thirteen. So that is how tight everything really is with them. Their home record this season stands at W6 D3 L5, and they are unbeaten in their last four at Goodison Park. The Toffees lost 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, and their most frequent score-lines at home this season have been 1-0 (six times). The arrival of former Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic should provide Everton a little more punch up front. But sustainability on a budget is what Everton are all about. They are a good, confident looking side at the moment, and can maintain possession very well. They big question here, is whether or not they have enough power to hold off an inform Arsenal, and getting a win against the Gunners would probably need a clean sheet, because Everton will struggle to get a couple of goals on the board.

Arsenal Preview: The Gunners are one of the most in form teams in the Premier League at the moment, having fired off five straight wins now. The just need to keep the remarkable momentum going now until the end of the season, and they have huge incentive as they have closed the gap on third place to just one point. They are definitely on an upward trend at the moment, having scored eighteen league goals in their last five matches. At home this season, Arsenal are averaging 2.21 goals per game, and while they are conceding goals, the high percentage of them have been away from home.

Away from home, Arsenal have won two and drawn one in their last three, they are averaging 1.8 goals per away game, but conceding on average 1.9 away goals per game. Robin Van Persie is the main man of course, as there is always value in looking at him in the goalscorer markets. With no distractions in the Champions League, or the FA Cup, the Gunners are totally focused on the charge up the Premier League. They are just carrying a lot of good form at the moment, and while Everton have proven to be stubborn opposition to a lot of teams, the Gunners, with their superior forward power will be favourites to keep their winning streak going. Boss Arsene Wenger has demanded no let up in their intensity to finish the season, and with the Gunners winning the last two away games against the Toffees, Arsenal could keep rolling on.

Odds: Arsenal 7/5, Draw 12/5, Everton 2/1 at Bet Victor

Form (Most recent result last): Everton DWDWL, Arsenal WWWWW

Stat Attack

• Everton have only won one of the last six home matches against Arsenal
• Robin Van Persie now has twenty six goals in the Premier League season, eleven of them being away goalscorer
• Twelve of Robin Van Persie’s goals this season have come in the last half hour of matches
• Everton are the third lowest scoring team in the Premier League

Recommended Bet: Everton are a stubborn side and don’t give a lot away, and are in good form. Arsenal are more openly attacking and have been in even better form. Still, the high percentage of Arsenal’s home wins this season have been by just a one goal margin. For a little extra coverage on Arsenal, just because they didn’t play on the weekend, where Everton did, an Arsenal -1 Asian Handicap for 5/2 at Bet365 makes great value.

Everton Preview: We are seriously getting down to the business end of the FA Cup now, as we look towards teams securing a semi final spot. Everton suffered a 3-0 loss against Liverpool in the Premier League Merseyside derby on Tuesday night, but wouldn’t read too much into that. That snapped Everton’s very good form in the league and cup this season, and seeing Everton give up that many goals is a bit of anomaly They actually played pretty well, but just couldn’t get the break in front of goal against Liverpool, and that is the only thing which stops Everton being a stronger side, lack of goals. Everton have only scored more than one goal in their last sixteen Premier League matches, so that indicates just how tight Everton matches are.

It should be the same against against Sunderland, as these two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light back in December. Home advantage here will be crucial for David Moyes and Everton, as that is where their stubborn resistance always shines. Let’s not forget that they have beaten both Chelsea and Tottenham in recent weeks at Goodison Park. Everton have been at home all the way so far in this year’s FA Cup, beating Tamworth, Fulham and then Blackpool in the last round. This presents their toughest challenge so far on the road to Wembley. Everton’s record against Sunderland pretty much speaks for itself, and that is why the Toffees will be favourites to go through.

Sunderland Preview: If Martin O’Neill were to secure Sunderland the FA Cup this season, it really would be a big turn around from the miserable fortunes in the early part of the season under Steve Bruce. It would also be a turnaround in history because Sunderland have struggled badly at Goodison Park. While O’Neill turned the Black Cats around, their form has dipped just a little bit, winning just one of their last four league matches. That win came in their last appearance, where they outworked and out-battled Liverpool at the Stadium of Light for a 1-0 win. Sunderland have tightened up quite a bit defensively (aside from a recent 4-0 loss at West Brom), but after a good run, the goals have just tried up a little bit going forward.

There have only been four away wins in the Premier League for Sunderland, and have only won one of their last four matches on the road. They do look a spirited cup side though, and they knocked out Arsenal in the last round with a 2-0 win at home over the Gunners. After a 2-0 win over Peterborough in the third round, Sunderland needed a replay to get past Championship side Middlesbrough in the fourth round. The away factor makes Sunderland a bit of an underdog, but you can expect a lot of hard work being put in through the midfield from the Black Cats.

Odds: Everton 20/21, Draw 12/5, Sunderland 16/5 at BetFair

Stat Attack
Sunderland have won just two league matches in 30 years at Everton
Sunderland have lost the last four at Goodison, scoring just one goal and conceding 14
Everton have scored in every FA Cup 6^th Round tie played at Goodison
Sunderland have never lost an FA Cup 6^th Round match away from home
Everton hold an 11-4 record in FA Cup meetings between these two.

Recommended Bet: Strong indicators that it is going to be a win for Everton here, but a draw wouldn’t be totally out of the question. Everton are hard to break down as always, but Sunderland are looking a decent, and evenly matched side. An Everton 1 Goal Winning Margin is nicely priced at 11/4 with Bet365.

Liverpool v Everton

Liverpool Preview: The Reds are in a bad slump of form at the moment, and as the season wears on, it becomes more and more evident that they don’t have enough fire-power going forward. They failed to take home advantage against Tottenham recently, which ended up in a draw. They outplayed Arsenal and couldn’t get a second goal, which cost them three points. Then, on Saturday they again misfired as they went down 1-0 at a hard working Sunderland. It really is getting to the point where two goals against the Reds is pretty much going to secure a comfortable victory. It is not that Liverpool play badly, they have put in some great performances, but there is a lack up front, which Luis Suarez can’t cover up all on his own. So now on the back of three straight Premier League losses, which has scuppered plans for an assault on a Champions League place, Liverpool host an in form Everton in the Merseyside derby. Surely a Merseyside derby should get them a bit more fired up?

If they could just start finishing the chances they create there really wouldn’t be too much wrong with Liverpool. But Craig Bellamy and Luis Suarez have been the most productive for Liverpool this season with just six goals each. Not enough by a long mile. So while Liverpool are generally a pretty solid defensive side, they aren’t covering up their mistakes at the back when going forward at the moment. Still, Liverpool will still edge this one as favourites, because they have only lost one game at home this season. However, alongside that there have been eight draws and only four wins, so that is the reason why they aren’t fighting for Europe. There have been two draws and a loss in their last three Anfield matches, and defeat against their neighbours Everton would really frustrate the Kop even more. Liverpool are averaging just 1.15 goals per game at home this season and they are there for the taking. It is this disappointing home form, the not taking chances which is the Liverpool frustration factor.

Everton Preview: In contrast to Liverpool, Everton are in great shape at the moment, beating Tottenham on the weekend, and that has come on top of wins over Chelsea and Manchester City, and the Toffees are on an seven game unbeaten run in the Premier League. The extra pressure in this Merseyside derby, is that with a win, Everton can leap frog Liverpool by one point in the standings. That is a huge incentive for the visitors, who are playing well at the moment, and victory at Anfield would see Everton jump up into seventh spot in the league. It is true that Everton don’t score a lot of goals either and there isn’t much between the two teams in goals stats. Everton have scored 28, Liverpool 30. Everton have conceded 28, Liverpool 26. So it really all points to Tuesday’s match being a very close, cagey encounter.

The only slight difference at the moment is that Everton are finding match winners from somewhere, and it was Nikola Jelavic who popped up with the winner against Spurs on his first start. So he could well be worth looking out for in the Goalscorer markets. It has been another good season for Everton under David Moyes, who is touted as being a possible Chelsea manager in the summer, and the Toffees continue to punch above their weight. there is 2-0 home defeat against Liverpool to avenge in the premier League, and while Everton are going strongly, there hasn’t been a win on the road for them in four matches. Everton have drawn three and lost one of their last four away matches, and they average just one goal per game. Everton have a W4 D4 L5 away record for the season.

Match Odds
Liverpool 7/10, Draw 13/5, Everton 4/1 at Bet Victor 

Form: Liverpool WDLLL, Everton WDWDW

Stat Attack
Everton’s last three away matches have ended in a 1-1 draw.
Liverpool have had five 1-1 results at Anfield this season
Last season this fixture produced, yes, a draw (2-2).
Everton haven’t beaten Liverpool at Anfield since the 1999/2000 Premiership season

Recommended Bet
Several ways to go on this one, but it could just be worth a Winning Margin bet on Liverpool to win by 1 for 5/2 at Bet365. Hard to see the match being any further apart from that.

Everton v Tottenham

The Toffees are one of the Premier League’s form teams, because they haven’t lost in their last eight (last six in the league). Manager David Moyes has been rumoured as a candidate for the vacant Chelsea manager position next season, and Everton will need all of his guidance this weekend against another top side. Is there a better side than Everton for frustrating the big teams in the Premier League? They have beaten Manchester City and Chelsea since the turn of the year and are on a decent stretch at home, losing just one of their last season at Goodison Park. The big feature of Everton is their organisation, but as usual, they do remain limited as an attacking force. Just once in their last fourteen Premier League matches has Everton scored more than one goal (the recent 2-0 home win over Chelsea). So if anything, if Everton are going to take advantage of Tottenham’s slump, then it is likely to come by just one goal. Everton average 1.07 goals at home this season, and have conceded one goal per game on average at Goodison this season. That pretty much sums up the nature of matches played at Everton. The Toffees have won five, drawn three and lost five at home in the league this season, and will look to continue their strong home form against another one of the top sides, following on from their back to back triumphs over Man City and Chelsea at Goodison. Spurs season looks in danger of falling away at the moment. They went into a difficult period of the fixture list starting with Manchester City on January 22^nd. They lost that, and have subsequently dropped points against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, which has seen their title challenge disappear. Harry Redknapp seems to be tinkering a little bit at the moment to shake things up, with Gareth Bale playing in centre midfield three instead of out wide. Spurs played midweek, and had to come from behind against League One side Stevenage in their FA Cup replay at White Hart Lane. Confidence could well be an issue for Tottenham at the moment, they have shown that they aren’t ready for a league assault just yet. Tottenham have been a much improved side away from home this season, even winning dirty at times, but they look as if they have ran out of steam. That having been said, they comfortably beat Everton back in January and are still favourites to win this one. Their defence won’t come under as much pressure as it has recently.

Verdict: Everton will naturally make things as difficult as possible for the visiting Tottenham Hotspur, so the attacking impetus will all be on Spurs. They are the ones who will be hoping for slip ups from the Manchester Clubs in the title race, and they need to start getting back on track because Arsenal are closing the gap behind them in the race for third. Everton at the moment look a tough team at home, and should be well worthy of a draw.

Form: Everton DWDWD, Spurs WDWLL

Key Stat: Tottenham’s away form at Everton could be the key to this one. Tottenham have suffered just three loses out of nineteen Premier League trips to Goodison Park. However, before you go jumping heavily on Spurs, they haven’t won on any of their last four visits.

Odds: Spurs 13/8, Everton 9/5, Draw 11/5 at Stan James

Recommended Bet: A draw looks probable again here, and it could be a busy Saturday for drawn matches when you weigh up the fixtures. Everton have the better form, Spurs have the better team, but three of the last four of these fixtures have been draws, so a decent trend to pay attention to.

Blackburn Rovers V Aston Villa

Playing at home, in front of their equally disgruntled supporters, has become a real burden for these two teams. Villa have failed to win their last seven in Birmingham and Alex McLeish’s side are growing accustom to being booed off the park by the Villa Park faithful, while there have been numerous fan protests staged at Ewood Park this season – home of Blackburn Rovers – with the biggest so far set for this weekend, according to BRFC Action Group. So it could pay to follow the Visitors here, who have lost just one of their previous seven away matches but are missing key personnel.

It would seem Steve Kean is no longer public enemy number one in Lancashire. That dubious honour is reserved for Blackburn’s hierarchy, with supporters set to stage ‘the largest and most attended demonstration in the history of the club’ on Saturday, ahead of their crucial league encounter with Aston Villa, with fans to demand the club be sold by current owners Venky’s. This all stems from a miserable league campaign, which sees Rovers reside in the relegation zone with almost two-thirds of the season gone. Although they aren’t far off safety, and a win at home to struggling Villa, who have only conjured up one win in their last seven league games, could see them rise as high as 16th in the table.

Bidding to ensure that doesn’t happen is an Aston Villa side in similarly dire straits. Fans have been appalled with what they’ve seen so far this season from Alex McLeish and his team, with the club languishing down in 15TH following a dismal run of form which has seen them record one league win in 2012 – a narrow 3-2 success away at struggling Wolves. Last time out they drew 0-0 with rock-bottom Wigan – the second consecutive game (tenth overall) in which they had failed to find the back of the net, a dreadful result that was compounded by the news Darren Bent had picked up a serious injury that would sideline the club’s leading scorer for the remainder of the term.

Verdict: It’s going to be so difficult for the home side to keep their composure amidst what is set to be another volatile atmosphere at Ewood Park. However, the visitors arrive in poor form and without several influential figures – Richard Dunne, Darren Bent and Robbie Keane among them. There hasn’t been a single draw at Blackburn all season in the Premier League; bank on that changing with a dour stalemate in Lancashire between two teams devoid of any confidence, or much in the way of fan suppor for that matter.

Form: Blackburn (18TH) DLLWL; Aston Villa (15TH) WDLLD

Key Stat: This will be their 12th competitive encounter in the past three seasons; Aston Villa triumphant in seven including their league meeting at Villa Park (3-1) earlier in the season.

Match Odds: Blackburn 7/5; Draw 12/5; Aston Villa 15/8 (PaddyPower)

Recommended Bet: Draw @ 12/5 with PaddyPower

Manchester City V Bolton Wanderers

As every punter has come to realise at some point or another, there is no such thing as a formality in football. But top of the table Manchester City, who have won their last three league games – all without conceding – and who are bidding to equal a Premier League record by stretching their run of consecutive home wins to nineteen, condemning second from bottom Bolton to their fourth successive league defeat is about as close as it gets, surely?

That isn’t all. Man City have won six and lost only one of their last ten league meetings with Bolton, who have succumbed to defeat on each of their previous four visits to Manchester for this fixture – the last three three without even registering a goal. Ominous stuff? You bet. Especially as City have notched exactly three goals in each of their last five home league games, four of which were without conceding a goal, with the strikers in particular – Mario Balotelli (10 PL goal this season), Edin Dzeko (13) & Sergio Aguero (16) – all in sparkling form. Moreover, all three were on target as the Citizens romped to a 3-0 victory at home to Blackburn last Saturday.

Whereas Man City were cruising to their third league win at home to Blackburn, Bolton were put to the sword at Stamford Bridge by an out of sorts Chelsea who strolled to a 3-0 success to condemn the Trotters to a third consecutive league defeat. Owen Coyle’s side have also failed to take a single point from their previous three away matches, or even score for that matter. They have, though, won twice as many games on the road this season (4, compared with the 2 at home), but have suffered heavy losses at all the big venues: Arsenal (3-0), Chelsea (3-0), Liverpool (3-1), Man Utd (3-0) & Tottenham (3-0).

Verdict: The result should be a foregone conclusion, though backing Man City at around 1/7 is absurd. However, there could be value in another 3-0 triumph for Roberto Mancini’s men, who have won four of their last five at home by this scoreline. Bolton, meanwhile, have conceded precisely three goals in defeats at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Tottenham this season, failing to score against four of them.

Form: Man City (1ST) WLWWW; Bolton (19TH) WDLLL

Key Stat: Manchester City would equal Manchester United’s Premier League record for winning 19 consecutive home matches should they beat Bolton at the Etihad Stadium.

Match Odds: Man City 1/7; Draw 13/2; Bolton 20/1 (StanJames)

Recommended Bet: Manchester City 3-0 (Correct Score) @ 13/2 with 888Sport

Queens Park Rangers V Everton

Almost a month has passed since Everton were last in Premier League action, with last week’s Merseyside Derby put back due to Liverpool’s Carling Cup final commitments. They have of course played in the FA Cup during that time, progressing to the quarter-finals with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to Blackpool, but to all intents and purposes David Moyes has the exciting prospect of picking from a squad that should be a lot fresher than that of his opposite number, one that will also be boosted by the return of several important figures, as Everton attempt to extend their unbeaten league run to six matches at Loftus Road.

Thanks largely to the form of both teams, Everton have been installed as favourites, even though they’re the ones doing all the travelling this weekend. The Toffees are unbeaten in five – seven if you include their exploits in the FA Cup, in which they’ve reached the last-eight of the tournament – but could you trust a team who have had to come from behind in each of their previous two away fixtures, against sides of a similar ilk in Aston Villa (15th) and Wigan (20th)?Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman are both in contention though following lengthy injury lay-offs, while in Argentine Dennis Stracqualursi they have a striker playing with confidence and amongst the goals.

Meanwhile, QPR are on a three-game losing streak following losses to Blackburn (3-2), Fulham (0-1) and Wolves (1-2). A devastating sequence of results that has Rangers hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference. It is also one win in fourteen in the league for Rangers, who have only won twice at home all season. However they were 1-0 winners in the reverse encounter at Goodison Park, back in August, complying at handsome odds then. Can they do the same again?

Verdict: In form? Certainly. Fitter and fresher? Possibly. But worthy favourites? Everton simply cannot be backed this weekend, not at 7/5. This is a fixture they were beaten 1-0 in at home last August, and while there is plenty of evidence to suggest revenge might be on the cards, if the Toffees can come unstuck at Aston Villa and Wigan then I see no reason why QPR, who aren’t playing all that bad and are in urgent need of a morale-boosting victory, won’t cause them further problems at Loftus Road.

Form: QPR (17TH) WDLLL; Everton (10TH) DDWDW

Key Stat: QPR have won just one of their last 14 Premier League matches (W1 D3 L10), whereas Everton are without defeat in five (W2 D3).

Match Odds: QPR 11/5; Draw 23/10; Everton 7/5 (BetVictor)

Recommended Bet: QPR +0.5 Asian Handicap @ 5/8 with BetVictor

Just sixteen teams remain in this season’s FA Cup and with neither Manchester club still standing, an opportunity for someone different to lift the trophy has emerged in what is now a wide-open field – though it would take a brave punter to look beyond the obvious quarter of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Some were saying the FA Cup simply doesn’t do romance any more. Well think again. While genuine giant-killings have been few and far between, the absence of the Premier League’s leading duo – Manchester City and Manchester United – is a massive turn up for the books in itself.

So who of the remaining sixteen will capitalise on their absence? Bookmakers are undecided, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all priced up as 7/2 co-favourites while Arsenal are also prominent in the better at 6/1.

Chelsea have been outright favourites ever since the draw for the third round, thanks in no small part to the draw favouring them and not their rivals. But their frantic league form, coupled with the fact their main rivals have been handed reasonable ties in the sixth round, means they no longer head the market.

The Blues, winners in 2010, have been drawn at home to Birmingham City – a tie they should win fairly comfortably one would imagine. However, Chris Hughton’s Brummie are thee in-form team down in the Championship, going their last ten unbeaten, while Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea extended their dismal run without a league win to four with a 2-0 loss at Everton last time out.

It could have been a whole lot worse for Chelsea. They could have drawn Martin O’Neill’s resurgent Sunderland away, which is precisely what Arsenal managed to do. The Gunners will be a demoralised bunch following Wednesday’s Champions League hammering in Milan, so Sunderland will feel revenge is definitely on the cards as these two square up for the second time in a week – Arsenal having won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light last Saturday courtesy of Thierry Henry’s last-gasp winner.

Liverpool and Tottenham have won this competition 15 times between them. Neither are expected to fall at the last-sixteen hurdle, not after the draw was kind to both. Tottenham head to League One Stevenage while Liverpool host Brighton of the Championship, conquerors of Newcastle in the previous round.

FA Cup romantics will be ecstatic to see a team from League Two still alive and kicking, with Crawley Town – fifth in League Two – the lowest ranked team left in the tournament. That might not be the case for too much longer though, as the Red Devils have been drawn against Premier League Stoke. They are at home though, while the Potters will only of had a few days to prepare having faced Valencia in the Europa League on Thursday.

Finals were once a regular occurrence for Everton, who have appeared in no fewer than thirteen – more recently in 2009, when narrowly losing out to Chelsea. With several new additions in the winter window, and with the team in buoyant following their recent scalps of Chelsea and Manchester City, David Moyes’ Toffees may finally fulfil their potential by capturing a first FA Cup for seventeen years.

You’d fancy Blackpool to be no match for Everton at Goodison Park, with Iain Holloway’s Tangerines more set on a return to the Premier League than a successful run in the cup.

The other two ties sees Bolton tackle Millwall at The Den and Norwich entertain Championship big-spenders Leicester, who at 3/1 appear outstanding value to spring a surprise at Carrow Road.

FIFTH ROUND TIES IN FULL

Saturday, 18 February 2012

Chelsea V Birmingham (12:30, LIVE on ESPN)

Everton V Blackpool

Millwall V Bolton

Norwich V Leicester

Sunderland V Arsenal (17:15, LIVE on ITV1)

Sunday, 19 February 2012

Crawley V Stoke (12:00, LIVE on ESPN)

Stevenage V Tottenham (14:00, LIVE on ITV1)

Liverpool V Brighton (16:00, LIVE on ESPN)

OUTRIGHT BETTING

Chelsea – 7/2 (Bet365)

Liverpool – 7/2 (Ladbrokes)

Tottenham – 7/2 (PaddyPower)

Arsenal – 6/1 (Coral)

Everton – 12/1 (SkyBet)

Sunderland – 16/1 (Coral)

Stoke – 18/1 (Bet365)

Norwich – 28/1 (Coral)

Bolton – 33/1 (WilliamHill)

100/1 Bar The Rest

Wigan Athletic V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 4 February 2012 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: DW Stadium

Preview

After becoming only the third team this season to condemn long-time Premier League leaders Man City to defeat, Everton will fear absolutely no-one this weekend – so lowly Wigan, who they edged out 3-1 at Goodison Park back in September, should be a breeze for David Moyes & Co.

There is a definite buzz around Merseyside right now, and it isn’t all down to Tuesday’s sensational victory over Manchester City. However, that result may well have signalled the dawn of a bright new era at Goodison, with the club going to such extremes as spending hard-earned cash in the winter transfer window – something we’re not used to seeing from Everton – as Moyes brought in three new recruits, two of which played a significant role in midweek, while the other is a former favourite around these parts.

The unveiling of Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic during half-time gave the whole place a lift, for a fee believed to be in the region of £6million, and within 15 minutes another new face had put Everton into the lead, against the side who were 4/9 favourites to lift the Barclay’s Premier League at the end of the season – Darren Gibson slamming home what proved to be the winner on a night when one of England’s most iconic clubs was, as clichés go, rocking.

As it goes, Wigan were also rocking in midweek (for entirely different reasons of course). Latics manager Roberto Martinez placed some of the blame for Tuesday’s comprehensive 3-1 defeat to Tottenham down to transfer speculation regarding some of his prized assets, with Victor Moses and Hugo Rodallega among those linked with a move away from Greater Manchester. So he, along with the consensus, will be delighted the window has slammed shut, in time for a crucial run of fixtures, all of which are winnable starting with Everton at home this weekend.

Tuesday’s defeat was Wigan’s fourth in succession in the league and left them without a win in eight Premier League matches, since beating West Brom 2-1 at The Hawthorns on 10 December. They are also out of the FA Cup as well, bowing out to League Two Swindon at the very first hurdle. So it genuinely is all doom and gloom around the DW Stadium at present, where Wigan have won just one solitary league game all season (W1 D4 L6) and have a similarly miserable record in this fixture: the Latics have faced Everton six times at home in the PL, with a record of one win, two draws and three defeats.

Baring all this in mind, you’d have to be one brave punter to opt for the hosts, who, even at generous odds of 5/2 (Bet365) at home, are seemingly impossible to back. Now, I wouldn’t normally advocate a bet of Everton at the best of times, and certainly not when they’re favourites, but Tuesday’s stunning result coupled with several eye-catching additions has given everyone at the club a new leash of life, or so it would seem. The Toffees actually look sweet at 5/4 (SkyBet).

Match Facts

Head-to-Head

Last meeting: Everton were 3-1 winners at Goodison Park on 17 September thanks to goals from Phil Jagielka, Apostolos Vellios and Royston Drenthe. Franco Di Santo had equalised for Wigan, who enjoyed more of the ball but created fewer chances.

Wigan have won only two of their thirteen Premier League meetings with Everton (W2 D4 L7 – Wigan’s record in PL versus Everton), failing in their previous six attempts since a 1-0 success in November 2008.

On the six occasions that Wigan have hosted Everton in the Premier League, the Latics have recorded just one win and scored a meagre four times (W1 D2 L3 / GF4 GA7 versus Everton at home in PL).

Wigan

It is eight Premier League matches without a win for Wigan after their 3-1 loss to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, with the Latics now four-points adrift of safety at the very foot of the table (W3 D6 L14 – overall record in PL this season).

Wigan have the poorest home record in the top-flight, registering a meagre 7 points from a possible 33, and are the only team not to have managed two or more victories on their own patch so far this season (Wigan home record: W1 D4 L6 / GF10 GA21).

No team has plundered fewer goals than Wigan (20), who have scored one goal or fewer in 18 of 23 PL games this season – and in 9 of their 11 matches at the DW Stadium.

On a similar note, no team has conceded more goals than Wigan (48), who have shipped 18 goals in six PL matches since Boxing Day and conceded on average 1.90 goals per home game.

Everton

Victory over Manchester City last time out (1-0) extended Everton’s unbeaten run to three Premier League games, four in all competitions, after they dumped out Fulham in the fourth-round of the FA Cup.

Everton haven’t managed to score more than one goal in a PL game since beating Bolton 2-0 at The Reebok on 26 November, 2011 – they’ve mustered eight goals from their eleven top-flight matches since then.

A draw at Wigan and Everton’s away record would be identical to their one at home (W4 D2 L5 away from home), with the Toffees winning one of their previous five away PL matches.

Betting

Prediction: Everton to WIN @ 5/4 with SkyBet

I have to admit, I didn’t give Everton a pray against Man City. I had my reasons, mind; like, for example, how they had lost to every top-seven opposition they had faced this season previously. Moreover, I could have cited their lack of goals (just three sides – Wigan among them – have scored fewer).

The latter is still a problem (scoring), however the signings of Steven Pienaar on loan and Nikica Jelavic from Rangers on a permanent deal could solve their problems. At worst, they’ll give the whole dressing room a lift, which should be enough, you’d think, to ensure they see off a hapless Wigan team who before long will find themselves stranded at the foot of the table unless their abysmal form picks up – and fast.

This is the first of a long line of winnable games for Wigan, who have to be winning them all if they’re to stay up, as their final few games are excruciating on paper. With this in mind, I am expecting a lot better than what I saw on Tuesday, when they basically rolled over for Spurs, however the momentum is clearly with the visitors who will have confidence and self-belief – my two favourite ingredients – oozing through their veins.

Value Bet: Everton 3-1 (Correct Score) @ 22/1 with Ladbrokes

Everton don’t normally do goals – but that was before Pienaar and Jelavic jumped on board David Moyes’ meandering ship. Both could feature at Wigan, especially with so many doubtful, and both will be keen to showcase their talents in a fixture which should allow them to do just that. Everton won this fixture 3-1 at Goodison last September, a score that flattered them. I see value in a repeat, only this time I reckon they’ll be deserving of the final score.

Match Odds

Wigan – 5/2 (Bet365)

Draw – 11/5 (Ladbrokes)

Everton – 5/4 (SkyBet)

Arsenal V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 10 December 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

Like all good teams do, Arsenal responded in spectacular fashion to dropping crucial points by thrashing a sorry Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium last week. That emphatic victory came a week after they were held to a bitterly disappointing 1-1 draw by Fulham at the Emirates. So you can’t help but feel for their opponents this weekend, an Everton side whose record against the Gunners is very dispiriting in itself.

No win in their last eight top flight encounters with Arsenal, losing six, we think it is fair to say Everton plainly have it all to do on Saturday. They’ve not been victorious away to the Gunners for 15 years! Runs are there to be broken, however, as Fulham did at the end of November, when ending Arsenal’s five-match winning sequence at the Emirates in the league. Whether Everton, a side who have already slumped to defeats against Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, can pull off something similar really does remain to be seen.

Arsenal

League Position: 5th

League Form: WWWDW

Now that the group phase of the UEFA Champions League has concluded, with the Gunners assured of a place in the last-16 as group winners, Arsenal can focus all their energy and commitment on the domestic front and continuing their resurgence.

Last week’s 4-0 whitewash of Wigan at the DW was their sixth win in a seven-match unbeaten spell that has helped them rocket up the table into fifth, to within just two points of the Champions League spots. A few more like that and it won’t be long before they are named potential title protagonists. If that is to be the case, slip-ups, like the one which occurred on 27 November at home to Fulham, need to be few and far between.

Arsene Wenger made wholesale changes for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Olympiakos in Greece, so expect a completely different side to the one which slumped to a 3-1 loss to tackle Everton at the Emirates. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, defender Thomas Vermealen – the Belgian who has netted in three of Arsenal’s last four Premier League matches, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Robin Van Persie were among those who didn’t feature and should return to the starting XI.

One player who is definitely out is left-back Andre Santos. Now that does leave Wenger with a problem, as full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna are both out injured while young Carl Jenkinson is doubtful. The Brazilian injured his ankle in Greece and is likely to miss all of Arsenal’s festive fixtures. Abou Diaby, who made his first competitive appearance of the season at Wigan last weekend as a second half sub, is also out.

Everton

League Position: 10th

League Form: LLWWL

The Toffees were shaping as though they could potentially inflict some telling damage in this fixture, after ending the month of November with successive victories over Bolton and Wolves. Then along came Stoke, who produced an industrious display at Goodison Park to consign Everton to their third defeat in four at home. Now we’re left scratching our heads as to how competitive they can really be in a fixture which has bore next to no fruit for some fifteen years.

To register two miserly points from their previous fifteen trips to Arsenal in the league just about says all you need to know. This is an horrific fixture for Everton, who have also fared woefully against the sides directly above them in the league. Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, heck even Newcastle, have gotten the better of David Moyes’ side this season. It would be a genuine shock if Arsenal weren’t added to this growing list.

Everton’s away record stands at a mixed W3 D0 L3, though that in itself tells us a lot. Their three wins all came against sides situated in the lower reaches of the league in Blackburn (18th), Bolton (19th) and Fulham (13th), while their defeats were all routine-like at Chelsea (4th), Man City (1st) and Newcastle (6th).

Neither Sylvan Distin nor Royston Drenthe were deemed fit enough to make the bench against Stoke, so doubts remain over their possible participation at the Emirates. Distin has been back in training for a little while now and should return, meanwhile Drenthe, who scored on his last visit to London, in Everton’s 3-1 victory over Fulham, is struggling with an ankle problem.

Match Pointers

- Arsenal won home and away versus Everton last season and are unbeaten in eight Premier League meetings with the Toffees (W6 D2), who last won away from home against the Gunners in 1996.

- Each of the previous six league encounters have featured both teams scoring.

- The Gunners have won five and lost none of their last six Premier League matches at the Emirates Stadium, though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham last time out there.

- Arsenal have won six of their last seven in the league, with their most recent being a 4-0 whitewash of Wigan at the DW Stadium.

- Central defender Thomas Vermealen has three in his last four Premier League starts for Arsenal, netting in each of his last two turn outs at home.

- Everton have a mixed away record; winning three, drawing none, and losing three.

- The Toffees have failed to score on five occasions this season, and some of those include defeats at home to Liverpool and Man City as well as their loss at Man City.

Betting

Arsene Wenger could afford the luxury of naming a weakened side for Tuesday’s Champions League game with Olympiakos, which was effectively a dead rubber for them seeing as they were assured of top spot in the group before the match kicked off. A young Arsenal team were comprehensively beaten on the night, losing 3-1 out in Greece, but virtually the entire team-sheet for Saturday’s home game with Everton will be comprised of players who didn’t feature in midweek.

A revitalised, refreshed Arsenal should wipe the floor with Everton, who couldn’t conjure a single shot on target at home to Stoke last week, with Robin Van Persie, the inspired Dutchman who has so often played a leading role in dismantling the Toffees in recent Premier League encounters, at the forefront of their success – again!

Prediction: Arsenal to WIN – 4/7 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Robin Van Persie First Goalscorer – 7/2 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Arsenal – 4/7 PaddyPower

Draw – 16/5 VictorChandler

Everton – 6/1 Ladbrokes

Everton V Sunderland

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 4 December – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Goodison Park

Preview

You’ll struggle to find two more passionate sets of supporters than those which follow Everton and Stoke, yet it will be a sombre atmosphere on Merseyside on Sunday as Goodison Park pays its respects to a former servant of the club, Gary Speed, who tragically passed away at the age of 42 last Sunday.

The teams, though, will no doubt do their best to put on a show, even though this IS NOT a live Sky Sports clash.

The last time Stoke were shown live was on Thursday, in their penultimate group game in the Europa League. A 1-1 draw with Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev, who last season dumped Manchester City out of the same competition, was enough to send the Potters through to the latter stages, which sparked scenes of jubilation in the Brittania terraces. However, will their midweek European exertions come back to haunt them yet again?

Eager to capitalise on any dreary minds or fatigued bodies are an Everton side chasing their third successive Premier League win, a feat they last managed way back in January 2010. Toffees chief David Moyes will doubtless be aware of his opponent’s dismal record when it comes to playing away from fortress Brittania, too: Stoke have won only one of their previous sixteen Premiership fixtures away from home, suffering twelve defeats and failing to even score on ten occasions.

Everton won last season’s corresponding fixture 1-0. With Stoke’s woeful track record on the road and with Everton hardly the most reliable of sorts, and certainly not the most prolific, we can expect another tight, low scoring affair on Merseyside.

Everton

League Position: 9th

League Form: WLLWW

With six points registered from their last two matches, Everton are gradually building momentum – although we have been here before, umpteen times in fact. A third consecutive victory on Sunday though, at home to Stoke, and it will be their longest winning streak for over a year, though more importantly it would put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

Back-to-back wins at home to Wolves (2-1) and away to Bolton (0-2) finally sees Everton heading in the right direction, upwards. They now sit ninth in the table, six points shy of the European places – which are well out of their reach this season – but a healthy seven clear of the bottom three.

David Moyes will be keen to guard against complacency, however. While another set of three points would consolidate their position in the top half of the table, defeat could see them fall as many as five places.

Everton have yet to lose a Premier League home game versus Stoke, winning two and drawing one of their three meetings so far. Yakubu scored their winner last season in a narrow 1-0 success, and there are serious question marks over who will pop up and score the winner on Sunday, as scoring remains an achilles heel of theirs – still! Which is why Moyes may opt to start with Greek forward Apostolos Vellios up top, with the 19-year-old having netted three after emerging from the bench this season.

Defenders Phil Neville and Sylvan Distin are both doubts for David Moyes, although both should be available. Jack Rodwell is another rated doubtful and his inclusion in the squad is less likely.

Stoke

League Position: 12th

League Form: LLLLW

Stoke simply don’t do travelling in the Premier League. It really is as simple as that. So Sunday’s game with Everton, at Goodison Park, represents a stern challenge for a buoyant Potters side who on Thursday booked their place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League with a hard-earned draw at home to Dynamo Kiev.

The above result is one of the main reasons why Stoke lack any sort of betting appeal in this fixture. Although Tony Pulis did ring the changes from the side which thumped Blackburn 3-1 in their last league game, his team weren’t half given the run around on Thursday by an accomplished Ukrainian outfit whose ball retention was superb. The final result was greeted by scenes of celebration, but the match itself will have taken a lot out of the players.

Of course, Pulis will once again rotate for the trip to Goodison. The fact he doesn’t have any major absentees is also a big positive. But a selection who did feature in midweek will have to play some part, particularly those in defence and midfield, and so fatigue could play a major role in a fixture Stoke don’t have the best of records in anyway; they’ve only taken one point from a possible nine of their three visits to Everton in the Premier League.

Even more ominous is Stoke’s away record in the Premier League. Just one win in their last sixteen away from fortress Brittania is astonishing, but the fact twelve of those were defeats is alarming, and that does include each of their last four. Moreover, the Potters slumped to emphatic defeats away at Sunderland (4-0) and Bolton (5-0) days after competing in Europe.

Match Pointers

- These two clubs have met six times in the Premier League; Everton are out in front with three wins, the last coming in last season’s Goodison Park encounter which finished 1-0 to the hosts, with Stoke triumphant on just the one occasion, though it was the most recent – a 2-0 win at the Brittania January.

- Everton hosts this fixture on the back of successive league wins, putting both Wolves (2-1) and Bolton (0-2) to the sword.

- Four of Everton’s seven goals at Goodison Park this season were netted by defenders; Phil Jagielka (2) and Leighton Baines (2).

- Stoke ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats when beating Blackburn 3-1 at home last week.

- The Potters have lost their last four away league matches, three without scoring, conceding 14 goals.

- In their last sixteen Premier League games away from home, Stoke have managed just one win (W1 D3 L12).

- Stoke have scored the joint-fewest number of away goals in the top flight (3).

Betting

You know you’re out of sorts when your only league win in over a month is against rock-bottom Blackburn, the team just about everyone has beaten this season. Well that’s the current situation with Stoke, who before last weekend’s tidy 3-1 win over Steve Kean’s ailing side had suffered four defeats on the bounce. Throw in their atrocious record when playing away from home in the league immediately after playing in Europe, as well as their current run of four consecutive away defeats, and you can see where I’m heading.

Usually I wouldn’t advise backing Everton at odds on, not under any circumstance, but we have to make an exception on this occasions. The Potters are consistently woeful on their travels and have even been prone to shipping bucket loads of goals, which is uncharacteristic of them. I don’t see them suffering another heavy loss, as Everton don’t do goals, but I suspect Thursday’s exertions will take their toll up against a fresher batch of legs in the form of David Moyes’ reinvigorated charges.

David Moyes is reportedly set to ditch misfiring Louis Saha – at long last – with Greek youngster Apostolos Vellios in line for his first Premier League start of the campaign. The 19-year-old is a powerful figure, boasting fantastic upper body strength, and has displayed a knack of being in the right place at the right time, which is what Everton need at this moment, because they have players willing to burst a gut down the flanks. Vellios could be a decent goalscorer punt, either first or any time.

Match Outcome: Everton to WIN – 3/4 PaddyPower

Value Bet: Apostolos Vellios to Score – 11/5 PaddyPower

Match Odds

Everton – 3/4 PaddyPower

Draw – 13/5 Bet365

Stoke – 19/4 StanJames