Magical Midlands match-ups preview: Quartet feature

Coral preview these two Saturday 3pm games featuring three sides from the Midlands, and one further up the road in Merseyside.

Stoke City, recent conquerors of Premier League champions Manchester City, host Championship winner Leicester City, while West Bromich Albion entertain a lacklustre Everton.

Stoke City v Leicester City
The Potters go into this fixture off the back of defeating title holders Man City on their own turf, and are favourites at evens for a victory again. Mame Biram Diouf got the sole goal of the game, but he is a doubt. Take a 21/10 chance on him netting anytime, though.

Whilst Stoke and Leicester have not met in the league since the Championship in 2008, they did face each other last season in the FA Cup at the Britannia, with the former being 2-1 winners. Mark Hughes’ side are 17/2 to record that scoreline in their favour once more.

Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam netted that day, and is a tempting 12/1 shout to get the last goal, as he has come on as a substitute for each of Stoke’s league game this season. David Nugent, meanwhile, got a late goal for the Foxes, and the England cap is 2/1 to score anytime.

Leicester may only be on two points for the campaign so far, but they have managed to share the spoils with Everton and Arsenal, and lost only narrowly to Chelsea. Stoke, on paper, represent easier opposition, so take odds of 3/1 if you fancy Nigel Pearson’s men to get a victory.

West Bromich Albion v Everton
With both West Brom (18th) and Everton (17th) next to each other in the table on two points each and, the fact they shared the spoils in both meetings last term, you should back them to draw again at 12/5.

The Toffees (11/10 favourites to win) have spent big this summer, bringing in the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Muhamed Besic, but have started the season slowly. They drew with Leicester and Arsenal, before being on the losing end of a 6-3 thriller against Chelsea at Goodison Park.

West Brom have started their campaign in similar vein, taking two points from their opening two games against Sunderland and Southampton, before succumbing 3-0 to high-fliers Swansea City.

Young England Under-21 star Saido Berahino has got the Baggies’ only goals this term (with two), and the striker is 2/1 to net anytime again, or 11/1 to bag a brace or better, as he did against the Black Cats.