No stopping Everton now

Doing well in the Premier League is all about knowing the requirements. An obvious thing to say, of course, but a point lost on Southampton’s Mauricio Pellegrino, who thought that good containing and counter-attacking displays against Man City and Arsenal could be shelved in favour of a more open approach against Leicester. The result was a 4-1 home defeat, as the visitors tore the Saints apart, sheer speed a factor in their triumph.

Ronald Koeman knows the requirements, of course, and I shall always believe he would have turned Everton around, the main problem being that the new owners had acceded to his every request but with no joy. Sam Allardyce has quickly wiped out any thoughts of relegation (always ludicrous) and the Toffees will continue to climb the table. They should beat Swansea on Monday and I think this televised match will indicate the size of the mountain the Swans must climb.
In Saturday’s televised Championship game, CARDIFF can prove too strong for Hull, who fought hard for a late point at Sheffield Wednesday but are hovering above the relegation trap-door. Neil Warnock has been out of the headlines lately but Cardiff are top six material and can continue their unbeaten run at home in style.

I have never thought that Crystal Palace would go down – too many dangerous forwards – and they can take something from the game at Leicester, while I certainly wouldn’t bet heavily on a very ordinary Stoke team beating a revitalised West Ham. Poor old David Moyes has had more rubbish written about him that most managers and there is a fair bit of steel about the Irons now. Again, there is no chance of relegation, which will revolve around Swansea and two others unless something spectacular happens in the January window.

My ‘outsider’ bet, which nearly worked for us when Southampton led Arsenal until the 88th minute, would be BOURNEMOUTH to beat Liverpool. Eddie Howe is a most impressive boss, Jurgen Klopp looks increasingly frustrated to me and what on earth he and Dejan Lovren were complaining about re the penalty awarded to Everton is anyone’s guess. The harsh truth is that, unless they win the Champions League, this will be another season when the Reds under-achieve and this game will be far tougher than they imagine.

EVERTON 30 units at 3 to 4 or 7/10 to beat Swansea
CARDIFF 20 units at 3 to 4 to beat Hull
BOURNEMOUTH 10 units at 11/2 (6/1 with bet365) to beat Liverpool