A Mid-Week Mid-Table Battle As Stoke Host Everton

It`ll be something of a mid-table battle as Stoke City host Everton at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow evening. The home side, who sit in 10th at the time of writing, could find themselves two places better off should they beat the Toffees and other results go their way. A defeat, conversely, wouldn`t see them slide down the table though would allow 11th placed Newcastle to close the gap on the Midlands side.

Everton have been one of the disappointments of the season, being unable to balance their success in the Europa League with their domestic form. In 14th position, the Liverpool club are six points from the dreaded drop zone and could fall a further place should they lose in Stoke and Hull take down Sunderland in their relegation scrap. Failure to pick up even a point would see the Blues liable to have such a buffer between themselves and the relegation zone eroded.

Should the Merseyside club seal the victory tomorrow, they could find themselves in 12th position, superseding the likes of Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion.

The two sides have played just one match this season, Goodison Park hosting Stoke in the reverse of this Premier League fixture. Bojan Krkic converted a first half penalty to put Mark Hughes` men in front. A goalless second 45 meant that the score remained at 1-0 to the visitors. Betvictor have another 1-0 Stoke victory at odds of 7/1 though this goal will not be claimed by Bojan who is out for the rest of the season. Stoke`s most likely candidate to break the deadlock, according to the bookmakers, is Mame Biram Diouf who is a 6/1 shout (Numerous) to score the first goal of the clash.

Six cards were brandished in the last encounter and Betbright have 28/17 on over 5.5 cards being shown in tomorrow night`s match-up. betfair have 7/2 on a penalty being awarded in the game.

Stoke`s victory at Goodison Park has seen Betbright install them as the favourites for this clash with the Toffees. This establishment are offering 17/11 on a home win. Alternatively, a number of turf accountants are expecting a closely fought encounter with Everton available at 11/5. Most bookmakers have priced a draw up at odds of 23/10. The Potters recent home record has been generally positive with the side collecting 10 points from their last five matches at the Britannia Stadium. Premier League victories over West Brom (2-0), QPR (3-1) and Hull (1-0) have been complemented with a draw against top four hopefuls Manchester United (1-1). Having scored in all five of their last games at home, Mark Hughes` men are available at 1/3 (Numerous) to bag over 1.5 goals tomorrow. Peter Crouch has scored in both of the last two home games and can be backed at 40/17 (888sport, unibet) to hit the back of the net at any time.

Stoke recorded two wins to nil in this five match period and are available at 3/1 (paddy Power, Skybet, Totesport) to record a victory without conceding against Everton.

The visitors have failed to score in three of their last five games on the road and have netted only three times in this five game period. They did break the deadlock on two of these occasions, however. bet365 have the best price on 13/10 on the Blues scoring first.

Martinez`s boys have scooped just three points in their last five Premier League games on the road and have conceded seven times, the equivalent of just under two a game. Stoke are currently priced at 28/17 (888sport, unibet) to score over 1.5 tomorrow.

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03/03/2015     © Frixo 2026