David John says Sam Allardyce's Everton can take a point from this evening's Premier League kick-off against Manchester United.
Brighton v Bournemouth (1230GMT, Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League)
The first meeting between this pair back in September was an entertaining 2-1 victory for the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium after the introduction of Jordan Ibe in the second half inspired a come-from-behind success.
Brighton very much impressed though on the night with some tidy football in possession and probably felt aggrieved they did not get something out of the encounter.
The outcome could have gone either way and just two points currently separate them in the standings for the rematch so another close encounter looks on the card with a stalemate generally trading at a fraction over 2/1.
There is a good contrast in styles as well – the hosts will rely on organisation and discipline and hope their best player Anthony Knockaert will be in the right place at the right time with a goal or an assist while the visitors tend to employ a rather more adventurous gameplan.
That worked for them on Saturday with a late winner against Everton as Ryan Fraser this time stepped up to the plate with a brace to help them end a worrying eight-game run without a victory.
Lewis Dunk is a potential absentee from the heart of the home defence and that could cause some disruption but I am going to stick with my first thought that the pair will be tough to split in a low-scoring draw.
Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Bournemouth - Sky Bet odds: 5/1
Burnley v Liverpool (1500)
Full marks to Burnley boss Sean Dyche for not blowing a fuse when interviewed after the goalless draw at Huddersfield having witnessed his side denied a clear penalty.
Jeff Hendrick was hacked down in the area by goalkeeper Jonas Lossl and even Dyche’s opposite number David Wagner broke managerial protocol and admitted they were fortunate the decision went Huddersfield’s way.
It was a game when the visitors had by far the better chances to go on and collect all three points so Dyche will have to console himself with another clean sheet as his backline prepares to face this stern examination, although two pieces of news are in his favour when they host the rampant Reds at Turf Moor.
Firstly, James Tarkowski returns from suspension while goal machine Mo Salah is a big doubt after limping off over the weekend and I doubt whether manager Jurgen Klopp will take any chances with the in-form Egyptian.
The Clarets appear to be a tempting price considering their excellent overall home record but their slip-ups have been against the bigger names lately having lost to Arsenal narrowly and then when patently second best as Tottenham came to town just before Christmas.
Liverpool have the ability and the form to match Spurs and run riot with their goal tally from their last eight away fixtures in all competitions reading a ridiculous 7-1-4-3-3-5-4-3.
Salah’s potential absence is far from insurmountable and should mean a chance for Sadio Mane to step up having spent much of the season overshadowed by his team-mate for obvious reasons.
He had the ball in the back of the net twice against Leicester only to see both ruled out but can gain some compensation in East Lancashire at 15/8.
Prediction: Burnley 1-2 Liverpool - Sky Bet odds: 7/1
Leicester v Huddersfield (1500)
The wheels have seemingly come off for Leicester since their 3-0 home reverse to Crystal Palace in the middle of December and the Foxes have now gone four matches without a victory.
The results are not a true reflection of their performances though as they have been more than competitive and there was certainly no sign of any heads dropping in the last-gasp 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United.
They return to the King Power Stadium as odds-on favourites to get back on course with victory over Huddersfield along with a golden opportunity to register their first clean sheet since the start of December against a generally goal-shy opponent.
The excellent Harry Maguire should be particularly steadfast at the back having allowed Mo Salah to wriggle past him and score Liverpool’s winner over the weekend so I am keen on the opportunity to inflate the odds a little with a home success to nil.
Huddersfield are unbeaten in four so have handily kept adding to the points tally over the Christmas period but rode their luck against Burnley when forced to cling on a bit in the closing stages for a 0-0 draw.
Their survival bid remains very much on track overall and anything from this one before clashes with West Ham and Stoke following a break for the FA Cup would be more than welcome as David Wagner once more ponders a change or two to his starting line-up.
I like the hosts though in this one to convert those good recent efforts into something more tangible with maximum points and a clean sheet.
Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Huddersfield - Sky Bet odds: 11/2
Stoke v Newcastle (1500)
I have some sympathy for Mark Hughes after the 5-0 thrashing at Chelsea with his defence decimated by injuries to such an extent he was forced into starting two unproven teenagers at wing-back.
Some of his other decisions further up the pitch though were a little bit dubious and the Potters probably got what they deserved with the Welshman trying to keep his most influential players fresh for a home game against a team one point and one place behind them, just above the relegation zone.
The pressure is really on to come up with three points and if the selection policy backfires then he will surely be feeling more than a little hot under the collar, particularly if a defeat and then other results go against them and means they start 2018 even deeper in the mire.
Stoke are not very strong in the betting at the time of writing at around the 5/4 mark despite winning two of their last three at the Bet365 Stadium against fellow strugglers Swansea and West Brom.
They came badly unstuck in between against an inspired Marko Anautovic and the speedy counter-attack of West Ham so it is hard to make an absolutely water-tight case for them at the prices despite the obvious deficiencies of the visiting Toon Army.
The latter average under a goal a game so far in the top flight and despite Rafa Benitez bringing back his better offensive options, the home side never really looked like breaking down a sturdy Brighton backline on Saturday.
Hughes might not have too many more chances if this game goes pear-shaped as the faithful become increasingly disgruntled but he does seem to have a knack of pulling something out of the bag when it counts most.
I will take a chance that his makeshift defence - boosted by a return for Kurt Zouma - can hold firm just enough to give the hosts a narrow victory with both teams finding the target.
Prediction: Stoke 2-1 Newcastle - Sky Bet odds: 8/1
Everton v Manchester United (1730, Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League)
There was a new experience for Sam Allardyce as Everton manager when his side suffered their first defeat under his guidance at Bournemouth.
The significant strides he had made certainly met with a setback as they were guilty of some sloppy work in their own defensive third and the defeat could have been heavier than 2-1 if Jordan Pickford had not been on a going day.
Allardyce has never been one to shy away from a challenge and he has a tremendous opportunity in front of the TV cameras to gain some rapid compensation with the Red Devils stuttering along in far from convincing fashion.
The best Jose Mourinho could come up with following a thoroughly underwhelming 0-0 draw with Southampton was a half-hearted plea for a penalty after the ball struck Maya Yoshida’s arm and he has a collection of players at the moment each looking at one another to provide that bit of spark.
Paul Pogba is the most obvious leader and has since issued a rallying cry ahead of the trip to Goodison Park in a bid to stir things up but they look a long way off their fluent best and anything they earn on Merseyside will be extremely hard-fought.
Mourinho has been robbed too of the opportunity to unleash Romelu Lukaku against his old team following an injury against the Saints so even greater responsibility now rests with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.
I could have been seriously tempted by the home side in the Double Chance market at odds-against but this busy spell everyone is enduring tempers enthusiasm while a roving eye towards Friday’s FA Cup derby clash against Liverpool might also act as a distraction.
This is a high-profile game for Allardyce though to make a statement in and recent form against both Liverpool and Chelsea suggests he will find a way not to lose - I will just refrain from betting on it.
Prediction: Everton 1-1 Manchester United - Sky Bet odds: 11/2
Recommended bets:
1pt Brighton and Bournemouth to draw and both teams to score at 7/2
1pt Sadio Mane to score anytime v Burnley at 15/8
1pt Leicester to beat Huddersfield to nil at 13/8
1pt Stoke to beat Newcastle and both teams to score at 7/2
Posted at 1635 GMT on 31/12/17.
