Paul Merson predicts ‘incredibly difficult’ Everton vs West Ham result
Everton are set for another defeat on the road when they head to West Ham at the weekend, according to Paul Merson.
The Sky Sports pundit predicted for Sportskeeda on 26 October that the Toffees will lose at the London Stadium on 29 October because the Hammers have “shown their class” so far this season, going for a 2-1 home win.
But in a campaign where Sean Dyche’s side have fluctuated wildly he has admitted it is “incredibly difficult” to say what they will do in any given game, having flopped at home to weaker sides before going away to European football-chasers and upsetting them.
Merson said: “Everton were on the ropes after Ashley Young’s red card against Liverpool and eventually lost 2-0. You never quite know what you’re going to get with the Toffees – they are like a bag of revels.
“One day, they’ll lose at home to a team they’re expected to beat but weeks later, they’ll show up away from home against a side gunning for a place in the top four, making their games incredibly difficult to predict.
“West Ham are a decent team and have shown their class this season, so I think they’ll win this one at home.”
Losing streak?
It goes without saying that the last thing Dyche would have wanted after recording a very positive 3-0 win prior to the international break would be to follow it up with back-to-back defeats.
The trip to Anfield was always going to be tough but having produced a battling performance that saw young centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite shine it was doubly disappointing to be undercut by the officiating.
West Ham have been good against all but the top teams this year so clearly represent another difficult game, but after a comprehensive Hammers loss to Aston Villa last weekend there may be an opportunity to capitalise.
If Dyche can get his side to recreate their work defensively from the derby then it would certainly give the Toffees a platform to work with, assuming there are no more refereeing decisions that cause outrage.
In attack it was a disappointing day for Dominic Calvert-Lewin against Liverpool after the striker had been crucial to some of the improved results of late.
He arguably had two major chances to score and was unable to take either, so if the number nine can recapture his previous form as well there is reason to believe Everton can cause the Irons problems in the capital.
In other Everton news, the reaction from 777 to the reported threat of a major points deduction has emerged amid the protracted takeover process.