Prediction: Everton vs Watford

Verdict: Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score anytime

Best Odds: 15/8

Bookmaker: Bet365

With a spot in the quarter-finals of this year’s EFL Cup up for grabs, Premier League strugglers Everton and Watford will meet at Goodison Park on Tuesday night.

Everton

Starting with the hosts, while a 2-0 win over West Ham 10 days ago may have appeared to be a result to kick-start Everton’s campaign, the Blues once again came crashing back down to earth over the weekend. Suffering injury-time heartbreak and watching Brighton pick up a dramatic 3-2 win on the South Coast, former Watford boss Marco Silva is coming under increasing scrutiny at Goodison Park. Losing three of their last four appearances and recording just one victory against Premier League opposition since the 1st of September, a six-match run, the Toffees now find themselves sat way down in 16th and holding just a two-point buffer over the drop zone. Desperately hoping that an EFL Cup run can improve the atmosphere on Merseyside, Silva will be looking for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead their charge in midweek. Finding the net against Brighton over the weekend, the 22-year-old has five in his last five across all competitions.

Team News

Winger Bernard will miss out after picking up a knee injury in the defeat to ​Brighton. Yerry Mina could be available though after missing the Toffee’s trip to the south coast with a knee problem of his own.

Watford

As for the visitors, only managing to play out a lackluster 0-0 draw against Bournemouth over the weekend, Watford have continued on what has been a very worrying start to the 2019/2020 Premier League campaign. Now the only side in England’s top-tier yet to record a single victory since opening the new campaign, returning boss Quique Sánchez Flores finds his side sat rock-bottom of the table and four points adrift of safety. A huge part of the Hornets’ continued issues entering November has come down to some toothless displays in the final third. Once again drawing a blank on Saturday afternoon, Watford have scored just one goal in their last five Premier League appearances. It should also be noted that Tuesday’s guests hold the worst attacking record in the division. There is no doubt that fans around Vicarage Road will also be calling on some improvements on their travels. Watford have failed to win any of their last seven competitive matchups on the road, a run that was highlighted by their 8-0 hammering away at Manchester City last month.

Team News

Although Watford captain Troy Deeney appeared to be moving closer to a return from injury, the 31-year-old will not feature on Tuesday.

Key Factors to Consider

• The last time the two sides met Everton came away with a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.
• The two meetings between Everton and Watford in the 2018/2019 Premier League campaign ended by a score of 1-0.
• Watford have scored just a single goal in their last five matches against top-tier opposition.
• Everton have lost five of their last six matches against Premier League opponents.
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin has five in his last five across all competitions.

Conclusion

While Everton might be enduring their worst domestic start in recent memory, there is no doubt that Marco Silva should see Tuesday as a golden opportunity to get one over on his former employers and improve the mood around Goodison. Led by leading marksman Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has found the net five times in his last five appearances, including a brace against Sheffield Wednesday in the last round of the EFL Cup, we’re backing the 22-year-old to extend on that run in midweek.

Verdict: Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score anytime

Best Odds: 15/8

Bookmaker: Bet365