Sunday throws up potentially the first ’six-pointer’ of the Premier League season as Wolves welcome Sunderland to Molineux. Both teams are in rotten runs of form and are in desperate need for three points. Elsewhere, Everton will be hoping Stoke have another European hangover when they head to Goodison Park for what should be a physical encounter.
Everton v Stoke City 3pm
The afternoon kicks off with Everton, who have won the last two, taking on the travel-sick Stoke. The Potters were dealt a rotten hand when it came to fixtures after Europa League matches, being forced to play away after all six of their group stage contests. So far, after European matches, its four games and four defeats, going down 5-0 at Bolton in their last away fixture.
Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev was a hard fought encounter and is likely to have taken something out of Tony Pulis’s men. With that in mind it is no surprise Everton are installed as 8/11 favourites for the win in the match betting, with Stoke at 9/2 and the draw at 5/2.
Stoke did stop the league rot with a win over Blackburn last weekend but Everton are seemingly a team on the up after a horrible run of fixtures. David Moyes’s team look like they are beginning to build a bit of momentum and, with the exception of next week’s trip to Arsenal, will view the next five fixtures as very winnable. The Toffees have been boosted the news Phil Neville, Sylvain Distin and Jack Rodwell could be fit for the clash – the latter having been in good form since his impressive run out with England.
The game is unlikely to be one for the purists or feature a boat-load of goals, but that should suit Everton as they look to pick up a third win on the bounce.
Wolves v Sunderland 4pm
The late kick-off on Sunday is arguably the most intriguing fixture of the day given what has happened at the Stadium of Light this week. Sunderland fans have suffered a torrid 2011 and finally lost patience with Steve Bruce last Saturday following the defeat to Wigan. Black Cats owner Ellis Short has heard their cries and Martin O’Neill looks set to takeover on Wearside in the not too distant future. The new man could be there on Sunday to see what his new team are made of as they look to get a positive result from the trip to Molineux.
Wolves have picked up four points from their last two at home and have a habit of picking up the points when they need to. Having won just one of their last 11, the pressure is on Wolves to take the three points and they’ll view Sunderland as the perfect opponents. The Black Cats have won twice all season and look a team in desperate need of a confidence boost. The news that O’Neill is on his way will help but it might not save them on Sunday.
Sunderland have lost on their last three visits to Wolves and, with the home side welcoming back Stephen Hunt and Jamie O’Hara, it looks like they could return to the north-east empty handed once more. Wolves are 11/8 in the match betting, with the draw 23/10 and Sunderland 21/10.
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