Paul Merson predicts result of Everton vs Leeds United clash in Premier League relegation battle
Paul Merson has predicted Everton to record a crucial victory over fellow Premier League struggler Leeds United at Goodison Park.
The Toffees fell back to earth after Sean Dyche’s first game in charge, with a limp 2-0 loss in the Merseyside derby on Monday (13 February), having looked transformed in beating Arsenal nine days earlier (9 February).
With Ellis Simms starting up front for the once-again unavailable Dominic Calvert-Lewin there is a clear issue in attack, but despite Merson highlighting the fact that Everton have got “nothing” in that department and suggesting manager-less Leeds could run over them he has instead gone for a 2-1 home win.
He wrote in his predictions column for Sportskeeda: “This is a massive game, and Sean Dyche has a job on his hands. This is a bigger game for Everton than it is for Leeds. Sean Dyche had two free hits against Arsenal and Liverpool, and I’m not sure they’ll cope when they’ve got to win a football match.
“I’m not sure how Leeds haven’t managed to find a manager yet. They’re one of the biggest clubs around, and they’re playing in the Premier League! They’ve been offering up to a hundred grand a week, and they still can’t find a manager.
“I watched Everton the other night, and they’ve got nothing up front. They’ve got to come and chase this game. I’ve seen them do it twice this season, and they’ve failed on both occasions. This is not a chasing team, and they don’t have the attack to win this game with only one player up front.
“If Everton sit back and work out a set play, they’ll have a chance this weekend. Leeds dominate matches and can’t score goals, but I do see them running over Everton in this game.”
Massive
Merson’s prediction appears to go against the majority of his analysis for this match up, but there won’t be many Toffees fans complaining if he turns out to be right.
While the Arsenal win showed that these players can still match anyone on their day, if they actually have some belief, even a shaky win would do wonders right now.
The opposition need the points as much as Everton do so it would be no surprise if it was a nervous affair all round considering what is riding on it.
Dyche revealed that Calvert-Lewin will again be missing in his pre-match press conference, and that will remain a concern for the rest of the season thanks to the empty January transfer window.
It seems unlikely that Simms will be expected to shoulder the load from the start again, but if Neal Maupay is overlooked once more it will be a damning indictment of his summer arrival.
Whoever is named in the line-up, this team is once again in a situation of needing huge backing from the Goodison Park stands, with the Evertonians’ support capable of lifting performances a number of levels.
It is unlikely to be pretty for the remainder of the season, but Dyche has been here before, and unfortunately so have most of these players so the fanbase will have to hope that experience proves crucial.