Premier League: Moyes Needs Points on His Birthday

West Ham United vs Everton

David Moyes will have his 63rd birthday on Saturday when two of the Premier League teams that he managed will clash at the London Stadium in Matchday 34 of the 2025-26 campaign. Right now, he’s with Everton, and the Toffees are keen to tack on more points to stay alive in the tightening European race.

Everton are winless in their last two, following a 2-2 draw with Brentford and a 2-1 loss against Liverpool in the latest Merseyside derby last time out. As a result, the Toffees are stuck in 10th place. However, at 47 points, they can finish as high as seventh if they beat the Hammers, and Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Brentford drop their respective matches.

West Ham United also need three points from this fixture to stay away from the drop zone. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is 17^th in the English top-flight table with 33 points, but they are undefeated in their last two league matches.

 

Talking Points

Mavropanos plans to leave West Ham United a hero

West Ham United will likely lose one of their key players this summer, as Konstantinos Mavropanos is reportedly set for a move back to the Bundesliga, with Borussia Dortmund being his top suitor, regardless of whether the Hammers maintain their top-flight status or not.

The news is bad timing for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, as the 28-year-old centre-back is on his best run of form since arriving in London. This season, Mavropanos is among the league’s top defenders, having logged 256 defensive contributions, including 35 tackles, 40 interceptions, 22 blocked shots, 83 recoveries, and 159 clearances for five clean sheets. 

He has also found his groove in the final third, having scored three goals in his last four appearances, including a surprising brace during the team’s 4-0 rout of the Wolves almost two weeks ago. Against Everton, Mavropanos will likely continue to team up with Axel Disasi at centre-half, with Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf as their full-backs.

Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen is expected to wreak havoc in the final third, as the skipper is the Hammers’ top scorer and playmaker with eight goals and eight assists, and he has enough support in the form of Callum Wilson, Crysencio Summerville, and Mateus Fernandes.

 

Everton anxious about Beto’s condition

Everton have put Beto in the injury list ahead of the West Ham United game, as the Guinea-Bissau striker suffered a blow to the head during their 2-1 loss against Liverpool. Fortunately for the Toffees, his injury doesn’t fall under the league’s stringent concussion protocols. However, if Beto can’t go, Thierno Barry will likely take his place.

Beto is now Everton’s leading scorer with eight goals, having scored four goals in his last three Premier League appearances. This is a remarkable turnaround for the 28-year-old, who was linked with a move away from the team last January, and now, Everton are grateful they held on to him.

 

History

West Ham United and Everton have shared the spoils in their last two league meetings, both 1-1 draws. In the reverse fixture last September, Michael Keane and Jarrod Bowen were on the scoresheet, giving Nuno Espirito Santo his first point as the Hammers head coach.

The Hammers have won just three of their last 17 Premier League home matches against the Toffees (D5, L9), though two of those have come in their last four against them at the London Stadium (D1, L1). They’ve kept two clean sheets in their last three Premier League home matches, which is as many as in their previous 41.

Everton have been superb on the road, winning 25 Premier League away points this season (W7, D4, L5), which is their best in a campaign since 2020-21 (37).

 

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2026 odds expect a tight contest between these two David Moyes clubs, despite their significant gap in the English top-flight table. Because they’re playing at home, West Ham United surprisingly have the slight advantage at 2.29, whereas Everton aren’t far behind at 2.81, and a draw is at 3.22 in the 1X2 market.

Choosing the winner of this contest may be difficult, but we’re sure that SBOTOP football fans will get their usual dose of Premier League 2026 highlights at the London Stadium this weekend. Besides our recommended bet, bettors can also add Over 2.25 at 1.64, Over 2.50 at 1.93, and Over 2.75 at 1.70 to the parlay. Furthermore, a Correct Score of 1-1 – the result of their reverse fixture – is on offer at 6.10 your bet. 

   

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