ENGLISH OTHER BETTING PREVIEW - EVERTON VS FULHAM

English Other

2023-12-19 - Everton vs Fulham

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Everton v Fulham
Football: English League Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 19th December 2023 - Kick Off 7:45pm

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Everton

We are getting closer and closer to the thirtieth anniversary of the last piece of silverware that Everton have won and, in a season when they have suffered a Ten Point Penalty in the Premier League, Cup competitions may not be a priority. However, Sean Dyche has selected strong teams in the League Cup and has been rewarded by taking Everton into the Quarter Final, while the Cup form has seen a big pick up in the Premier League form too.

Another three points were earned on Saturday as Everton beat one of their relegation rivals and that has pushed The Toffees to 7 points clear of the bottom three. With that in mind, Sean Dyche will be expected to name a strong team and the fans will be expecting a first League Cup Semi Final spot since 2016.

Everton made it 4 wins in a row on Saturday and they have also kept 4 clean sheets in succession, which will have built some real confidence. Earlier this season it felt like Everton were struggling to perform at Goodison Park, but the manager pointed out the positive underlying stats and The Toffees have responded by winning 4 of their last 6 here in all competitions.

Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye are back after serving suspensions, while Vitalii Mykolenko may not be risked. Ashley Young, Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes are doubts, while Sean Dyche may choose to rest Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Fulham

Marco Silva was incredibly upset by what he saw as being inconsistent refereeing in his team's 3-0 loss at Newcastle United on Saturday. It is far from ideal that Fulham had to play with ten men for 70 minutes in that defeat, especially during the busy festive period when games tend to come thick and fast.

Attention can turn away from the Premier League for a few days with Fulham playing in their first League Cup Quarter Final in 19 years. The manager has taken the domestic Cups seriously in his time managing Fulham and they have beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City and Ipswich Town on their march into the last eight having reached the FA Cup Quarter Final last season.

Fulham had won 3 of their previous 4 games and had scored at least three goals in all of those fixtures before the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday. The positive results have been earned at Craven Cottage and the defeat on Saturday means Fulham have lost their last 3 away games since beating Ipswich Town at Portman Road in the League Cup Fourth Round.

Raul Jimenez is suspended having been sent off at St James' Park, while Tim Ream, Calvin Bassey and Adama Traore are expected to miss out.

Head to Head

These clubs met on the opening weekend of the Premier League season and Fulham scored a second half goal in a 0-1 win at Goodison Park.

That result means Everton have lost their last 3 home games against Fulham.

Prediction

In the earlier Rounds of the League Cup, and even the FA Cup these days, managers from the top flight clubs will rotate squads and perhaps leave themselves open to ridicule if suffering an upset defeat.

Both Sean Dyche and Marco Silva have selected strong Everton and Fulham teams throughout their run to the League Cup Quarter Final and fans will be dreaming of an early appearance at Wembley Stadium in February.

There are still some big clubs involved in the League Cup, but this Quarter Final offers a huge opportunity to two teams that have been in good Premier League form.

However, Fulham were well beaten at Newcastle United on Saturday and you do have to wonder if there will be some fatigue issues having played for 70 minutes with ten men. If this game was Wednesday Marco Silva would have felt better, but a Tuesday trip to an in-form Everton team who have won 4 in a row looks a tough ask.

Sean Dyche's men will be motivated for revenge having played well, but missed a lot of chances in their 0-1 defeat to Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. That does mean Everton have suffered a hat-trick of home losses to Fulham, but the current form suggests The Toffees can snap that.

There is a big Semi Final place on the line, which could raise the pressure on the players, but Everton had an easier night in the office on Saturday and that may show up here. After the battle of playing with ten men in the loss at Newcastle United, Fulham may be a little short of energy and Everton can win this one.

The Pick :

Everton 2-1 Fulham

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Everton to Win at 2.05 with BetFred