Paul Merson predicts scoreline of Everton versus Norwich City
Everton host Norwich City on Saturday and will be eager to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.
Rafa Benitez’s men were also dumped out of the League Cup by Queens Park Rangers during the week, and anything apart from a win against the struggling visitors will be underwhelming.
The Canaries have not won a league game on their return to the top-flight, losing all of their five opening games.
Paul Merson expects a straightforward victory for Everton given the woeful form of Daniel Farke’s men.
In his Sportskeeda column, he predicted a 3-0 win in favour of the Toffees, writing: “Norwich City have now lost 16 Premier League games on the trot and were well beaten by Watford last weekend. Arsenal beat them 1-0, but it could so easily have been more.
“They shoot themselves in the foot regularly and are guilty of playing out from the back at the wrong times, which has contributed to their torrid run of form in the top-flight.
“I just don’t see anything other than an Everton win and if I look at the fixture list, I can’t see who Norwich are going to beat this season to get points on the board.”
Easy three points?
The Blues are still without attacking duo Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin after they missed Villa’s loss due to injury, and while that should normally be a blow, Benitez can count on the likes of Salomon Rondon, Andros Townsend, Alex Iwobi and Demarai Gray to deliver the goods against the struggling side.
Norwich have shipped the most goals (14) so far this term and scored just twice, and given their style of play, Everton are going to see loads of goalscoring opportunities.
It would be up to them to take their chances as the Canaries will not be looking to sit back at Goodison Park.
They would be keen to prove that they belong in the top-flight, though, and the Toffees cannot afford to underrate them.
They have the likes of Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell who have what it takes to hurt any side if given the chance in the final third, and the Blues’ defence needs to be wary of their threats.
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