Everton To Move Above Spurs?

This was meant to be an ordinary season for Everton, post David Moyes, but it is proving to be anything but with the Toffees poised to move above Tottenham Hotspur and into the top four if they can beat their north London rivals on Sunday.

Coral rate Everton 7/4 chances to make it six wins from ten games this season and inflict the third defeat of the campaign on a Spurs side now looking a little vulnerable after a fine start. The visitors are on offer at 15/8 (23/10 the draw).

When Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down at Manchester United, all eyes were on his replacement from Everton, the ‘Chosen One’. Well, maybe at least half an eye should have been kept on Roberto Martinez, who took over from Moyes at Goodison Park. Nine games into the season and it is Everton, rather than United, who are pressing for a top four place.

Martinez lost Marouane Fellini to United in the summer transfer window, but that doesn’t look such a big loss at the moment and anyway, he countered that by keeping hold of Leighton Baines (at least for the time being) and also secured the services of striker Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea – one of the coups of the summer.

Lukaku is 11/2 to score first or last (6/4 at any time) on Sunday, while Baines, always a massive threat from free kicks around the box, is 4/1 to score during the 90 minutes.

Spurs have several threats of their own, of course, including Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored yet another contender for Goal of the Month/Season against Hull in midweek. He’s 11/4 to get on the scoresheet again.

This looks tight, but Everton could just shade it, maybe 2-1 (9/1) to maintain their very real challenge for a Champions League place – they are now down to 6/1 with Coral to finish in the top four.

It’s an historic day for football in Wales with Cardiff (21/10) taking on Swansea (13/10) in the first ever all-Welsh Premier League clash.

This is sure to be a fast, furious and feisty encounter and, like all such derbies, is difficult to call. Swansea are entitled to be favourites on current form, but an honourable draw (9/4) looks the safest bet.