Everton vs Watford. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance38,609.
Sunday 5 November 2017 16:34, UK
Michael Keane is set to return to the Everton squad after a foot infection as they face a vital Premier League clash with Watford on Sunday.
The defender has missed the last two games for the Toffees with the issue, but he is expected to be available for selection at the weekend.
Everton are winless in their last eight games in all competitions and have lost the last five - with a 3-0 defeat to Lyon on Thursday knocking them out of the Europa League.
That run has left them in the final relegation spot on goal difference and while they haven't lost three consecutive Premier League games at Goodison Park since March 2016 under Roberto Martinez, they face a Watford side who have made a strong start to the season.
The Hornets have already won as many away Premier League games in five outings under Marco Silva as they did in their 19 league games on the road under Walter Mazzarri last season (3).
Everton will be without Cuco Martina, who has been given the all-clear after taking a bang to the head and neck during Everton's Europa League loss to Lyon, but is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks as a precaution.
Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka all return to the squad after being rested for the trip to France as does Oumar Niasse, who was ineligible for European fixtures.
Watford captain Troy Deeney will start his three-match ban on Sunday after receiving a retrospective suspension following a clash with Joe Allen last weekend.
Roberto Pereyra misses out with a hamstring niggle, while Sebastian Prodl (thigh) and Younes Kaboul (hamstring) are still sidelined, but Marco Silva hopes the duo will return after the international break.
Everton have lost just one of their eight Premier League meetings with Watford (W5 D2), with that defeat coming at Vicarage Road last season.
The Hornets have picked up just one point from their 10 previous league visits to Goodison Park (W0 D1 L9), with that solitary draw coming on the opening day of the 2015-16 season.
Excluding own goals, no side has had fewer goalscorers in the Premier League this season than Everton (two - level with Crystal Palace), with only Wayne Rooney and Oumar Niasse netting for them.
Watford have scored with 52% of their shots on target in the Premier League this season (15/29); the highest ratio in the competition.
Players of 16 different nationalities have made a Premier League appearance for Watford this season; a wider spread than any other club in the competition.
Everton have handed a Premier League appearance to six different teenagers since the start of last season, two more than any other club in this period (Ademola Lookman, Mason Holgate, Nikola Vlasic, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies and Ben Baningime).
Watford forward Richarlison has made more touches in the opposition box than any other Premier League player in the opening 10 games of the season (74).
The Brazilian has been involved in more goals than any other Watford player this season (5), had the most shots (35) and shots on target (6) and no Hornets' player has created more chances for the club (13).
I was disappointed with Watford on Saturday (in losing 1-0 at home to Stoke). It was the first time this season where they turned up expecting to win and they could not handle it. When you play for a big club, that is expected every week, but if you play for a lesser club, there is no pressure. As soon as there is pressure put on you, look what happens… they never looked like scoring and they could still be playing now and wouldn't have a goal!
But the pressure is now back off them again, they are a different animal and Everton will have to come at them. They [Watford] could have been 4-1 up at Chelsea, but I am going to go for a 2-2 draw.
However, if someone said you have to pick one, I'd go Watford. I can see Everton getting well beaten against Lyon - that is a bad game - he [Unsworth] is going to have to make changes.
Paul predicts: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 100/30)
Everton are Sky Bet's 11/10 favourites for the victory despite their troubles, with Watford priced at 5/2 while the draw is a 12/5 chance. The Toffees are currently 10/1 to face relegation, half the price of their visitors. Wayne Rooney heads a wide-open first goalscorer market at 9/2 while Andre Gray is considered the visitors' main threat at 7/1 to net first.
