Everton v West Ham predictions: Struggling rivals could be hard to separate

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Everton v West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 2.15pm Sunday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 12-5 Betfred

Team news

Everton
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has joined Andros Townsend, Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate on the sidelines. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure face fitness tests.

West Ham
Nayef Aguerd and Ben Johnson are injured but Aaron Cresswell should be available.

Match preview

West Ham have shown they would be a force to be reckoned with in the Danish Superliga, but in the Premier League they have taken just four points from their first six games of the 2022-23 season.

The Hammers won 3-2 away to Silkeborg in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, having thumped Viborg, another Danish side, 6-1 on aggregate in qualifying and put three more goals past FCSB of Romania on matchday one of the group stage.

But David Moyes's men have had a lean start to their domestic campaign and they may struggle to claim maximum points at draw specialists Everton, particularly given the quick turnaround after West Ham's latest trip to Denmark.

In terms of attacking talent, the Hammers have a clear edge over their hosts, even if the Toffees welcome back key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin to their squad.

However, much of West Ham's transfer business came late in the window and it may take time for Moyes to integrate Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca, who has impressed in Europe but had only one Premier League start, and attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

Having also held on to Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen, the Hammers are likely to climb the table sooner rather than later and their last two league performances, in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham and an unfortunate 2-1 loss at Chelsea, have been encouraging.

This weekend, though, they may have to settle for a point against an Everton side who have drawn their last four league games after losing their first two by one-goal margins against Chelsea and Aston Villa.

They scrapped hard for a goalless derby draw at home to Liverpool last time out and should be fresher than their visitors after two weeks without a fixture.

Even so, it would take a leap of faith to back a team whose attacking options remain so limited. Frank Lampard's big summer signing was defensive midfielder Amadou Onana while Dwight McNeil, relegated with Burnley last season, and striker Neal Maupay, who had slipped down the pecking order at Brighton, were his main attacking reinforcements.

Calvert-Lewin's injury left the Toffees short up front and they are yet to score more than once in a game this season, including a 1-0 EFL Cup win at League One Fleetwood.

Everton's England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is also sidelined and the draw is worth a bet in a clash between two teams with just one victory between them from 12 league matches this season.

Key stat

West Ham have won only two of their last 11 away league matches.

Inside info

Everton

Penalty taker Neal Maupay
Assist ace Anthony Gordon
Set-piece aerial threat James Tarkowski
Card magnet Tom Davies

West Ham

Penalty taker Declan Rice
Assist ace Michail Antonio
Set-piece aerial threat Tomas Soucek
Card magnet Declan Rice

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