By Antony Jordan
While the majority of round 24 of the 2015/16 EPL season played last night with eight of the ten matches from this game week playing around the UK on Tuesday night there are still some big named sides in action this evening. The final two games from this midweek round of games see the clashes of Everton v Newcastle in the North and Watford v Chelsea down South, but which way will these two games go?
We preview this pair of games with online sportsbook 10Bet.com and provide our best EPL picks from the Wednesday night action.
Everton v Newcastle: 1.66 – 4.10 – 5.05
Although Newcastle come into this clash at Goodison Park eight points behind their hosts they are in the much better form recently as they have won three of their last ten EPL games while The Toffees have won just one. However, they do not have the best of records against Roberto Martinez’s men as they have lost six of the last eight meetings with the side from the blue half of Liverpool and their 1-0 win in 2010 is the only time they have won on this ground in 15 years. They are boosted for this match as £12m signing Andros Townsend is likely to make his debut while, should his visa clear, striker Seydou Doumbia could start this vital clash too. Will these additions help them upset the odds and win this match?
Everton spent £13.5m on striker Oumar Niasse on transfer deadline day but he will not be available for this match and midfielders Kevin Mirallas and Muhamed Besic are both of the match through injury too. Goalkeeper Tim Howard is doubtful too and with them having lost three and drawn two of their last five home league games, conceding 11 goals in this run, they will be fearful coming into this game. Luckily for them Newcastle have lost eight of their 11 Premier League away games this season and have suffered defeat in each of their last three.
The visiting side to Merseyside this Wednesday night will be boosted by their recent additions and while they may not win this match they are sure to take advantage of a leaky Everton defence that has kept just a single clean sheet – to bottom of the table Aston Villa – all season on home soil and, as such, we’re backing goals in this match.
Our best Everton v Newcastle bet is back Both Teams to Score – Yes @ 1.68 with 10Bet.com.
Watford v Chelsea: 4.00 – 3.35 – 2.00
While the first of the two Wednesday night matches we’re looking at is an all Northern affair, this second game at Vicarage Road sees a meeting of two sides from around the English capital and after a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink’s first match we’re expecting plenty more fireworks in this clash too. Watford will play with confidence too as they have won both of their last two matches, taking all three points from Newcastle in the league and moving into round five of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Championship side Nottingham Forest at the weekend, and with four wins in six at home, where they were defeated only by Tottenham and Man City, they will fancy their chances at upsetting the odds.
Chelsea impressed in the FA Cup at the weekend too as they crushed second tier MK Dons 5-1 as Oscar scored a hat-trick and Edin Hazard ended his goal drought by converting from the penalty spot. They have done well on the road in the EPL too with three matches since Jose Mourinho was fired seeing three clean sheets as they have drawn with Man United before beating Crystal Palace and Arsenal, with the last of these sides having a man red carded early on.
We feel that this match at Vicarage Road will be tougher than any Chelsea have faced in recent times, especially considering the number of quality buys The Hornets have made during the transfer window, and we’re backing both teams to push each other all the way so we see goals in this clash as well.
Our top Watford v Chelsea tip is back Both Teams to Score – Yes at odds of 2.05 in the 10Bet Sportsbook!