Everton Continue Search for Elusive Win

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At the start of the 2017/18 Premier League season, expectations were high at Goodison as Everton splashed the cash on new players.

Ronald Koeman was expected to lead Everton to a challenge at the top of the table, with qualification to the Europa League and possibly the Champions League on the cards.

However, what has developed has been a very poor run of results which has seen Everton slide into the relegation zone and get knocked out of the Europa League at the group stage, with two matches remaining.

The Toffees dreadful start to the season has seen Koeman leave the club and David Unsworth has taken control of the first team, without changing results.  Unsworth will be hoping to get a win on Sunday when Everton entertain Watford.

You must go back to the 23rd September to find the last time Everton won a football match, which was a 2-1 home win against Bournemouth in the Premier League.  Since then the club have drawn two and lost six of their last eight games in all competitions.

Not only that but Everton have lost their last five games in a row, two of which have been in the Premier League, two in the Europa League and one in the League Cup.

Trends show Everton have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions.  The Toffees conceded 5 goals in their last home game in the Premier League against Arsenal and have not kept a clean sheet in their last four at home in the league.

Watford travel to Goodison having enjoyed their start to the 2017/18 Premier League campaign but having lost their last two matches, will want to return to winning ways in this game.

The 4-2 defeat at Chelsea two weeks ago is excusable but the 1-0 loss at home to Stoke City last weekend was disappointing, and Marco Silva will want to see a response from his players against a team below them in the league.

The loss to Chelsea was Watford’s first away defeat of the season and prior to that the Hornets beat Bournemouth, Swansea and Southampton and picked up a point at West Bromwich Albion.

Trends show Watford have scored at least 2 goals in each of their last six away Premier League games and given Everton’s defensive record, they will feel confident of finding the back of the net in this match.

Team news and Everton still have several players on the treatment table, including James McCarthy, Ross Barkley, Ramiro Funes Mori, Seamus Coleman, and Yannick Bolasie.  Full-back Cuco Martina is out with concussion but Michael Keane is hoping to make a return in defence.

Watford travel without Nathaniel Chalobah, Isaac Success, Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Prodl, Craig Cathcart, and Tommie Hoban.  Troy Deeney will miss the match through suspension after being charged with violent conduct last weekend.

This may not be the match neutral fans are looking forward to on Sunday but it has the makings of a very entertaining game.  Over 2.5 goals would not be a surprise and expect to see Watford take something from the match.