MORE PAIN FOR WAYNE
Rooney’s one for the book Canelo the pick in this real fight of the year
PEARSON’S
THESE are clearly worrying times at Goodison Park.
Some pundits suggested they had done well over the summer despite paying inflated prices for mediocre players.
But Ronald Koeman now has a side devoid of pace, power and confidence after their recent maulings at the hands of Chelsea, Spurs and, most worryingly, Atalanta in the Europa League.
The bad news is things are likely to get worse before they get better, with the Blues travelling to Old Trafford tomorrow to meet Manchester United.
The game sees the return of United’s all-time record scorer Wayne Rooney and the former England striker is sure to get a warm reception from the Red Devils faithful.
United are 1-3 at BetVictor to take the points, although they will miss the injured Paul Pogba who has been excellent so far this term.
Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to get such a good hand from the Everton fans who once adored him – the striker is 27-10 to open the scoring and 4-6 to net at some time during the 90 minutes.
Everton have had only seven shots on target in their four league games this term and scored twice – both from Rooney, who is 12-1 to open the scoring at Old Trafford and 4-1 to score during the match.
Of more interest is the 3-1 BetVictor is offering for Rooney to be booked in either Premier League game against United this season. He is a proud man and if he didn’t know the size of the challenge facing him at Goodison before, he does now. It is possible he may let frustration get the better of him if, as I expect, Everton are chasing the game.
David Moyes is the only United manager to lose to Everton at Old Trafford since the first week of the Premier League back in 1992. And while Jose Mourinho has never beaten Koeman in five previous encounters, that is likely to change tomorrow.
Koeman is 6-1 from 25-1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post, following Crystal Palace’s decision to replace his fellow Dutchman Frank de Boer with Roy Hodgson this week.
I was staggered by that decision. If I remember rightly, Sam Allardyce pulled up few trees at Palace last season before turning it around and as soon as Wilfried Zaha is fit I think the Eagles will fly up the table.
Palace are 85-40 today to win against Southampton (31-20). The draw is 11-5.
I think Palace can just shade it and with their next three games against Manchester City, United and Chelsea, they’ll need at least a point today. Go to BetVictor.com