predictions-and-tips
West Ham v Everton Predictions and Betting Tips
April 18, 2017
Saturday April 22 – London Stadium – Premier League
West Ham ended their run of games without winning by ousting Swansea last week, but high flying Everton pose a more potent challenge. The three points mean more to the away side as they remain in the hunt for a European place, while West Ham are all but safe already.
Past Meetings
Everton have only lost one of their past 20 meetings with West Ham. The solitary defeat came at home in March last year, but Ronald Koeman’s men successfully extracted revenge, winning 2-0 in the first meeting this season.
Team News
The Hammers will be without Pedro Obiang, Angelo Ogbonna, Michail Antonio and Gokhan Tore through injury, while Mark Noble and Sam Byram are suspended. New Zealand international Winston Reid should return after missing the last month with a groin injury.
Everton’s injury list makes West Ham’s seem short as they will be without Seamus Coleman, Yannick Bolasie, James McCarthy, Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon and Muhamed Besic. Although it may seem like a paltry consolation, the Toffees are without suspension and have utilised youth well this season in a complete rotation policy.
West Ham vs Everton Preview and Predictions
At odds of 5/4, Everton enter Saturday’s meeting as favourites even though they are the away side. The Merseyside club’s Champions League ambitions may be all but dissolved, but the chances of Europa League qualification are still very much alive, so the win will be more valuable to the travelling Toffees.
West Ham are currently sitting in lower mid table and are priced at 23/10 to take the victory, although that seems unlikely. The draw at 13/5 is a more logical bet, but with the Hammers’ inconsistencies the reason for their brush with relegation this season, anything other than an Everton win seems unlikely.
Romelu Lukaku may be the Premier League’s top scorer, but his odds of 7/2 for first goalscorer should be avoided, as the Belgian has only scored against two top half teams this season, and as West Ham are closing in on a top half finish, they should give him trouble. Andy Carrol at 6/1 is the best bet as the revitalised England international has a better goal dispersion rate than Lukaku.
As Slaven Bilic’s job is not at stake and Everton have a healthy lead over seventh placed West Brom, expect an open game between two sides with little to lose.
Recommended Bets
West Ham 2-2 Everton at 13/1
The Irons have been an inconsistent mess this season, although Everton have also had their problems, struggling to take advantage of Arsenal’s problems. With neither side needing to sit back, there should be plenty of goals.
Manuel Lanzini to score any time at 7/2
Everton are good at keeping target men at bay, but they struggle against flair players and West Ham’s little Argentine forward is one of the most technically gifted in the league. Even the off-form Philippe Coutinho ran rings around Koeman’s defence, giving Lanzini a great chance to end the season on a high.