Saturday Draw Double

The bookies have both Merseyside clubs priced up at pretty short odds to win on Saturday, but in reality Everton’s game with Aston Villa at Goodison and Liverpool’s trip to Stoke should both end as draws. As always, backing a draw double gives us lucrative odds, this time 10/1 with totesport.

First let’s look at David Moyes’ side, who are an evens money shot with some bookmakers.  Visitors Villa somehow find themselves at a best price of 3/1 (Bet365) despite looking the more impressive outfit so far this campaign. Everton have only played two league matches, but they are massively flattered to have three points after they committed daylight robbery at Ewood Park. Blackburn dominated, hit the woodwork three times and missed two penalties. The Toffees were then awarded a soft spot-kick of their own and duly snatched a 1-0 victory in injury time.

Everton should have left empty-handed that day, but they did in their first home game against newly promoted QPR. That was another poor performance and transfer-deadline day only worsened morale when star midfielder Mikel Arteta left in the final moments.

Villa are unbeaten in three league games and five points should be seen as about par for the course. Home fixtures against Blackburn and Wolves and an away trip to Fulham have comprised a pretty friendly opening for Alex McLeish. His new troops have looked ok but I’d back a better side to pile on the agony for the hosts at Goodison Park. As it is, this looks like a nailed-on draw to me with home advantage still counting for something.

In another 3pm kick-off I see Stoke giving Liverpool their toughest test yet as we get to see how far Dalglish’s side really have come over the summer. The Reds have seven points on the board but, like Villa, the fixtures have not been unkind with home games against Bolton and Sunderland always likely to bear fruit. The trip to the Emirates Stadium could hardly have come at a better time either.

Stoke are also unbeaten, and everybody knows that the Brittania Stadium is a tough place to go. Chelsea were content to leave with a 0-0 draw on the opening weekend and that result would still represent progress for a Liverpool side who were soundly beaten 2-0 in the Potteries last season. Dalglish has strengthened at great expense since then, but Tony Pulis dipped his toe into the transfer market himself last week. Peter Crouch, Wilson Palacios and Cameron Jerome will add to his options. All things considered, I see no reason why these two sides who haven’t lost shouldn’t keep those runs going.

Back the two draws as a double at best odds of 10/1 with Totesport. Just click on the odds, sign up and claim your free bet.