Everton vs Crystal Palace
Goodison Park, Liverpool
Saturday, 08-02-2020 @3:30pm
Ref: David Coote
Everton are unbeaten in the past 10 Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last three (W4, D6). They could equal their longest top-flight home winning streak versus Crystal Palace: three from 1979 to 1990. Nonetheless, Palace are vying to earn a fifth Premier League away win against the same opponent for the first time.
Everton have lost just once in 10 league games since Marco Silva was sacked (W5, D4). Liverpool are the only side to have earned more than Everton’s 19 points during that period. It’s five games unbeaten at Goodison Park for the Toffees (W3, D2), their best run in a single season since a six-match streak between September and December 2018. They have scored a league-high 61% of their goals in the first half of games this season. Everton are one of two teams not to have been awarded a Premier League penalty this season, along with Newcastle United.
The Eagles are winless in seven matches in all competitions. Their only victory in 10 league fixtures came against West Ham on Boxing Day (D6, L3). Palace have gone nine Premier League games without a clean sheet, the longest current run in the division. Roy Hodgson’s side are the division’s lowest scorers, with 22 goals. Only five of those have come before half time. They have had the fewest attempts on target in the Premier League this season: 77 in 25 games at an average of 3.1 per game. Crystal Palace have 30 points – a win would give them their highest tally after 26 fixtures of a top-flight season since 1991-92. The average age of their starting XI in the Premier League this season is 29 years & 230 days, the oldest in the competition. Christian Benteke is one short of 100 Premier League appearances for Palace. He scored eight goals in his first 13 league matches for the Eagles, but has only managed 11 in the subsequent 86 games.
Everton midfielder Fabian Delph must serve a one-match ban as a consequence of his sending off against Watford last weekend. Andre Gomes could return later this month after recovering swiftly from a serious ankle injury.
Crystal Palace loanee Cenk Tosun, who missed the last game because of a hamstring problem, is ineligible to face his parent club. Martin Kelly misses out because of a calf injury.
Brighton vs Watford
The American Express Community Stadium, East Sussex
Saturday, 08-02-2020 @8:30pm
Ref: Kavin Friend
Shane Duffy is available for Brighton after recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot in his leg. Fellow defender Dan Burn could return from the broken collarbone he suffered on New Year’s Day, while new signing Tariq Lamptey might be involved.
Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley is in line to make his comeback from an Achilles injury. The Hornets will assess Nathaniel Chalobah, who was substituted due to a back spasm last week, and Ismaila Sarr. Winger Sarr has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury against Tottenham three weeks ago.
Brighton won the reverse fixture 3-0 on the opening weekend of the season, scoring one more goal than they had in total in the previous seven league meetings. Albion are vying to secure their first league double over Watford since 1990-91, when the sides were playing in the second tier. Watford’s only defeat in their past seven league visits to Brighton came in the Premier League in December 2017 (W3, D3).
Sunday’s fixtures
-Sheffield United vs AFC Bournemouth @5pm
-Man City vs West Ham United @7:30pm
