Everton v Chelsea: Torres inclusion enhances chances of few goals
Published:Goals have been in particularly short supply in the most recent meetings between Everton and Chelsea and so backing under 2.5 goals at 4/6 in the Premier League odds could offer the most value at Goodison Park.
Only twice in the last ten league fixtures between the two sides has there been more than three goals scored and Goodison Park is not a ground where Chelsea will have the fondest memories from recent seasons.
Chelsea have failed to win in any of their last three league visits to Everton and would have watched table-toppers Manchester City come unstuck on their visit in January.
This victory will offer a big boost to confidence levels at Everton and prior to losing to Manchester United earlier in the season, they were unbeaten in 11 meetings against the teams currently occupying the top four places in the league at Goodison Park.
Chelsea won the meeting at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, but have failed to complete a league double against Everton since the 2004/05 campaign and have only done so three times since the Premier League began.
The draw is perhaps the best value bet at 11/5 given that four of Chelsea’s last five away league fixtures have ended in stalemates, while eight of the last 17 meetings in all competitions have been draws.
At 6-1, 1-1 in the correct scoreline market looks a good bet, as three of Everton’s last four matches have ended as this result, while Chelsea have only scored more than once four times in their 12 away league fixtures this season.
In terms of backing a winner, Chelsea’s odds of 11/10 make them clear favourites, with Everton available at 12/5 to land the spoils.
With Didier Drogba still away with the Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup, Frank Lampard, who is set to return to the side after missing three games with a calf injury, looks a strong possibility to extend his lead as Chelsea’s top scorer.
Having scored seven goals for Chelsea against Everton, 6/1 could prove a big price that he scores first, especially with Fernando Torres continuing to struggle in front of goal.
