Bill Edgar: Silva’s away record uninspiring for Everton fans hoping for Anfield shock

“Arsenal have yet to lead at half time in Unai Emery’s 13 league games in charge – their first such 13-match run in the league since midway through the 1967-68 season – yet they are on course for their joint highest points tally (79) in 11 years.”

Arsenal’s habit of starting slowly and finishing fast is becoming bizarre. They have yet to lead at half time in Unai Emery’s 13 league games in charge – their first such 13-match run in the league since midway through the 1967-68 season – yet they are on course for their joint highest points tally (79) in 11 years. In the past 11 games they have fared better in the second half than the first on ten occasions (ie their second-half goal difference was an improvement on the first). Eight times in the league this season Arsenal have been level at the break and gone on to win, yet they are as high as 11/2 to do so again at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Marco Silva has enjoyed far better results as a manager in home games than away since arriving in English football in January 2017 – the difference is much greater than football’s usual home-away contrast. The distinction was particularly marked at Hull City and now it is happening again at Everton, which is worrying for their hopes on Sunday as they seek a first win over Liverpool at Anfield in 21 attempts since 1999. Little wonder then, that Everton are as big as [9.2] on the Betfair Exchange to defeat their great rivals.

Regulars at the Hawthorns are witnessing floods of goals, with three of West Bromwich Albion’s past four home league matches ending 4-1 – victories over Leeds United and Reading and a defeat to Derby County. West Brom’s nine home games have produced 39 goals (26 by themselves) at 4.3 goals per game, so it may be worth considering Betfair Sportsbook odds of 8/5 for over 3.5 goals or even 21-5 for over 4.5 goals when Brentford visit the Hawthorns on Monday. The fact that Brentford’s past three away games have produced 13 goals is a further encouragement in that direction.