Bookie Preview: Everton vs West Brom

It’s turning into a real battle for end-of-season bragging rights on Merseyside.

Everton, 4/5 shots with Paddy Power, will be looking for another three points against West Brom in their league tussle with city rivals Liverpool, to see who’s top dog come the end of the campaign.

The Toffees come into this game buoyed by their 2-0 FA Cup win over Sunderland to set up an all-Merseyside clash in the semi-final on Grand National day, Saturday April 14.

And the players will want to ensure they’re on the team-sheet at Wembley for the first all Merseyside semi-final clash since 1977, by laying down a marker with some consistent league form.

The blue half of Merseyside have averaged a goal a game at home this season and have only kept four clean sheets in that time so a high scoring, it’s a knockout type of game is probably a bit too much to ask for.

West Brom are without a win since beating Chelsea on March 3rd, that effectively ended Villas-Boas tenure at Stamford Bridge, and have not yet hit the magical 40 point mark in the league.

Paddy Power offer 2/1 that Everton win the game ‘to nil’ and it may be worth taking the risk that the Baggies are unlikely to be overly attack-minded.

A 1-0 win for the Toffees is priced at 11/2 with the Irish bookmaker with Tuesday night’s opening scorer Jelavic available at 9/2 to score first with the same firm.

WBA boss Roy Hodgson who fancies himself for the England manager’s job will want to make sure his side bounce back from their 3-1 mauling at home by Newcastle last Sunday and get to the magical 40-point mark as soon as possible.

West Brom have slipped down the table recently and are stuck on 36 points so will want to avoid being dragged into any relegation dog-fight as the season enters its final phase.

They have only kept one clean sheet away from home so far this season but on the plus side six of their 10 wins in the league have come away from home.

If you think they might catch Everton on the hop after Tuesday night’s exertions it’s 15/4 with Paddy Power that they oblige.