28th Dec 2015 | Premier League
Potters Shaping Up Well
If the season had begun at the end of September then Stoke would be in the top four right now.
Football sage Mark Lawrenson has predicted Everton to win this one because Stoke don’t score enough away from home. But since they have the joint best away record for goals conceded (just 7 in 9 matches), they don’t tend to need many!
The truth is that while the Potters have earned headline-grabbing home victories over United, City and Chelsea, they have taken as many points on the road (13) as at the Britannia Stadium.
Further to this, the Toffees have actually taken more points on their travels (14) than they have at Goodison Park where they have lost as many as they have won (3). In other words, home advantage is irrelevant at best here.
With Stoke’s attacking triumvirate of Bojan, Arnautovic and Shaqiri now looking formidable while the defence remains resolute, another victory for Mark Hughes at 10/3 looks on the cards.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 04:26 28th Dec, 2015 but subject to change
