The road back to the Premier League has indeed been arduous for Ipswich Town, with a paltry return of just four points from their opening seven matches, leaving them precariously positioned just above the relegation zone. The visit of Everton comes at a time when Ipswich are finding some rhythm in top-flight football. Both teams desperately seek the points, and this visit of the Toffees to Portman Road is worth watching. Here’s our match preview, along with betting tips and predictions for this crunch fixture.
Match Preview
Premier League | October 19, 2024 | 3pm UK Time | Portman Road
Can Ipswich or Everton Kick-Start Their Season?
Ipswich and Everton face a much needed win to kick-start their respective seasons. Ipswich have conceded 14 goals in 7 matches while Everton have let in 15 as defensive issues will no doubt feature heavily in the match. Some key things to consider:
Leaky Defenses: Both Ipswich and Everton have had issues keeping clean sheets this season, with Ipswich averaging two a game conceded and Everton no different in the back. Now it is unlikely for either side to keep a clean sheet.
Liam Delap’s Influence: A certain Ipswich striker by the name of Liam Delap has been in very good form, having scored four goals across seven appearances. His consistent finding of the net makes him a valuable threat to Everton’s defenses.
Both Teams to Score: Smart Bet – BTTS is a smart bet because both teams are either in poor form when defending or do show snippets of attacking ability. In four of the last five games, Ipswich have seen both teams score and Everton have followed suit similarly .
Betting Tips:
1. Both Teams to Score
Odds: 4/6
Reasoning: Ipswich and Everton are both defensive vulnerabilities, but they have enough attacking talent to score. In-form Liam Delap for Ipswich and Dwight McNeil for Everton should contribute towards goals in the game. BTTS has landed in four of the last five league games for both teams, making this a strong betting choice.
2. Correct Score Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Odds: 11/2
Reasoning: This has the feel of a 1-1 draw written all over it. Ipswich and Everton are making a habit of not turning chances into victories and this has the smell of another tight, low-scoring affair. Ipswich have drawn four of their last five games while Everton, with only one victory this season, also draw more often than they lose. It feels inevitable that two desperate sides will dig their heels in to ground out a hard-fought draw. Match Preview:
This has all the makings of a relegation six-pointer, even at this early stage of the season. Both Ipswich and Everton have had poor starts to the season, and already there are signs that the pressure is on for both managers to get things right. Newly promoted Ipswich are still getting used to the pace and intensity of top-flight football. Despite substantial summer investment, Kieran McKenna’s team is still waiting for its first league win of the season. They haven’t been helped by a tricky fixture list and have drawn games in which they perhaps looked better value for more.
On the other side, there is enormous pressure on Everton, too. Sean Dyche’s men have been inconsistent, with defensive errors and an attack that has looked bereft of real cutting edge holding them back. That single win in seven has done little to alleviate the growing panic at Goodison Park, while the match will be seen by both sides as an opportunity to breathe a little easier outside of the danger zone, yet neither may push for that all-important victory for fear that defeat would further compound their ills.
Correct Score Prediction:
Prediction: Ipswich 1-1 Everton
Neither side looks like it will run away with this match, and the most likely outcome of this match is a tense draw. A scoreline of 1-1 reflects their current state of form, with both teams showing struggles to close out games.
The match between the two indeed presents an excellent opportunity for both Ipswich and Everton to gain some desperately needed points, but vulnerabilities in defense make a high-scoring game less likely. There will be a very grueling, hard-tackling match with many chances on either side of the pitch.
