At the midway point of a crazy season – and indeed, crazy year – I suppose I should not be surprised that Everton are fourth in the Premier League. Both they and Aston Villa are currently above Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Burnley have just been taken over by an American consortium. Indeed, my beloved Manchester United appear to be making some sort of title push, which I can only attribute to Liverpool’s relative failing to attain the level of last season (understandable with so many regulars out) as my team are still a year or two away from being in that discussion despite the clear and enjoyable progress made under Solskjaer’s stewardship. Still, this is going to be a wacky campaign, and I find myself enjoying that. Indeed, it’s been so crazy that West Ham United have been one of the teams I’ve trusted the most, which has…well, never happened to me before. Strange times.
With these two teams, anything could happen tonight. I don’t really see one team as being better than the other. Both have strengths and weaknesses that the other will struggle to deal with. Calvert-Lewin has emerged as one of the best target men in the division but he’s up against one of the physically strongest teams in the league so that’ll be a very interesting battle. I think Everton have enough skilled creators and good set piece takers to find ways past a resolute West Ham United, but whether that’s enough to see them win the game or not, I don’t know at this stage, despite the odds movement suggesting that most bettors fancy the home win.
By his own admission, West Ham United boss Moyes has gotten his selections a bit wrong of late. I still think they’ve demonstrated how much they believe in the approach by working hard and seldom losing, but things could have been better. I don’t think he’ll make selection errors against his former club though. Indeed, barring a meltdown in a London derby with Chelsea, it could be argued that they’ve been better on the road than at home this season. Either way, this is not a team I would write off.
Now, West Ham United may not lose many physical battles but they do struggle to deal with teams when placed under the cosh. The old team of theirs would have loved it, dealing with the ol’ siege mentality, but not this lot. They work hard enough but let’s just say that most are in this defence through hard work and physical attributes rather than being spectacular at their respective roles, if I can put it that way. That’s the case for their defence, leastways.
Their attack, however, is the best I’ve seen it in a long time. Containing them has been very difficult for every team this season. For me, it’s because they’re actually very good in a number of situations. For example, Soucek has been deadly at converting set pieces this season. Then you’ve got big Haller as a target man if that’s the preferred route. They’re also lightning fast on the break with wide man Bowen having impressed me the most this season. Now they’ve added Benrahma to their squad too. Ok, they’ve not seen the best of him yet, and I am not his biggest fan – looks very typically North African with his strengths/weaknesses to me – but I recognise what he brings to the team that nobody else does. With Fornals and Lanzini dictating the tempo, this team looks dangerous, and the goals they’re scoring has made them seriously hard to beat.
That’s what the Liverpool club are up against tonight. They’ve done well of late, Everton, winning more than their fair share of games. They’ve had some bloody hard fixtures too, if you exclude the Sheffield United away game – and let’s face it; the Yorkshire club are running themselves into the ground, even if they’re not actually getting anywhere in the process! Everton have picked up some really good points, and produced some mature displays. I thought they were a touch cowardly against Manchester United but it nearly paid off for them, I suppose.
The thing is that Everton never seem far away from conceding. They don’t concede lots, but they do seem to concede regularly. I think Mina has come on a lot in defence but there’s no really enough quality alongside him, and the left-back position has been an issue for them all season long. That, fused with the goalkeeping dilemma of fielding erratic Pickford or newcomer Olsen is affording teams opportunities to score against them, and I’m not sure that West Ham United would pass up on such an opportunity. It’s also worth noting that Everton aren’t quite as good at keeping the ball in midfield whilst Allan has been out.
Their attack is very good though. Calvert-Lewin is more than just a target man, to be fair – he’s a beast. Fast, strong, a decent enough finisher. I can’t help but feel that a bigger move is on the cards for him at some stage, with all due respect to Everton. With him, Richarlison, Sigurdsson, and Bernard in the equation – as they are tonight – I suspect Everton will find ways past West Ham United. Much like their opponents, they’ve developed numerous effective routes to goal, and West Ham United are just looking a tad leggy at the moment. I certainly think that both teams here can push one another’s buttons rather well.
I may not be able to split them from a 1×2 perspective, but I do think that backing over 2.5 goals at 4/5 in this contest makes a lot of sense.
