Everton v Reading: Hosts to enhance flat-track bullies reputation

A run of recent indifferent form aside, Everton have enjoyed a tremendous domestic campaign thus far, and can build on it further with victory at 2/5 here.

In six meetings against bottom-half teams this term, the Toffees have yet to lose, whilst they have avoided defeat in 13 of their 15 total games opposing lower-half sides.

And as such, they should be expected to record a straightforward win over a Reading side that have collected only five away points all season.

If that isn’t enough to deter punters from the 7/1 visitors, the fact that they have lost six of seven games away to top-half opposition should be.

Considering they have conceded 14 times in those seven matches too, a 2-1 home win looks good at 15/2, bearing in mind that the Toffees have most regularly won by this scoreline this season.

Whilst possessing the worst away record in the league, the Royals have more often than not found the net on their travels, so backing them to do so at Goodison Park could pay dividends.

It is 19/20 that each team notches, but better value can be found in the 9/4 that both defences are breached in an Everton win.

Similarly, a home success featuring in excess of 2.5 total goals looks a tempting 23/20 call, considering that 63 per cent of both Everton and Reading matches this term have reaped more than 2.5 strikes.

And as both teams are expected to register on Merseyside, an abundance of scorer options can tempt punters in this match.

Set-piece specialist Leighton Baines has scored three goals in his last three games at Goodison Park, and the 10/1 odds that he opens the scoring here look on the large side.

The Toffees went on to win two of those three matches meanwhile, which could encourage some to invest in Baines scoring at any time in an Everton win at 7/2.

For Reading, Adam Le Fondre has most recently proved somewhat of a super-sub, racking up seven goals in his last nine appearances, the majority of which have come from the bench.

As such, he appeals as a 10/1 prospect to score the final goal of the game.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.