Premier League Televised Game Preview: Everton v Fulham

Premier League / Richard Walker / 30 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Everton may have been rejuvenated by a couple of decent results but Richard Walker is backing Fulham to come away from Saturday's match with something to show for their endeavours.

Separated by just one point in the table, hosts Everton haven't yet won at home while visitors Fulham haven't chalked up three points on the road. So using logic belonging more to the Stone Age than state-of-the-art, I will duly suggest you back The Draw, priced at [3.8].

Their 1-1 Goodison Park draw with Manchester United and a midweek win at Bolton sees the Toffees in much finer fettle than nearer the start of the season; but they've been more miss than hit this year and I'm taking Roy Hodgson's side to have enough about them to come away with something.

David Moyes' buoyed boys are the [1.76] Betair favourites while Fulham rate a [5.8] chance. I think less than evens, effectively, about a home win is a little on the narrow side though, in the same sentence, fully concede that the Whites have a habit of being atrocious away from Craven Cottage.

Marouane Fellaini, the Merseysider's 20-year-old Belgian record signing - scored both the equaliser against United and the winner at the Reebok in the week. So he'll be in fine form, high on confidence and keen to get forward for any set pieces so you should include him To Score (at any time) with odds of roughly [4.5].

Compare and contrast the giant Fellaini with ex-Goodison favourite Andy Johnson, who got off the mark for Fulham with two in the week. Like all players, he'll come out with the lines about how it was great at his former club - yadda, yadda, yadda.

Let me tell you, from having worked at a football club, one thing that gives players an extra buzz is sticking one (or more) up their old employers, however cordial the parting of the ways was. So bung Andy Johnson in with Fellaini To Score (at perhaps a point longer than the home side striker) and ice the cake by backing 1-1 in the Correct Score market at [7.6]

Everton were back to their grinding best in the week and I can see a similar scenario at Goodison with Fulham having conceded just five goals on the road so far. Under 2.5 goals looks the right thing to back at odds of [1.79] - it's [2.1] to take the opposing view in a market which always enjoys strong liquidity. I just can't see either side taking too many chances. Everton never do by their nature and Fulham will protect what they start the game with: parity.

When the market develops, if you can get anything between [2.25] and [2.5] to back The Draw in the Half Time section, take the opportunity to do.

A binary scoreline for me this Saturday afternoon. Where will your investment go?