Ipswich Town vs. Everton: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Both teams to score has occurred in four of each team's last five games in the league, so we expect both sides to find the back of the net in this one.

Everton are unbeaten in their last three games while Ipswich are coming off the back of a pretty damning defeat, so it's fair to say that the momentum is with the visitors coming into this one.

Ipswich, though, have performed well on their own patch this season while Everton are winless in their last 14 league games away from home. Ipswich 1-1 Everton.

This Saturday's Premier League clash between Ipswich Town and Everton at Portman Road presents a crucial opportunity for both sides to build some much-needed momentum.

• Date: 19/10/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Portman Road, Ipswich

Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League has been a mix of optimism and frustration. Newly promoted from the Championship, the Tractor Boys have managed to pick up just four points from their first seven games, leaving them hovering just above the relegation zone. However, given the circumstances of their start, it’s a position that might not fully reflect their potential.

Kieran McKenna’s side is yet to register a win this season, but it’s important to note the tough fixture list they’ve faced. Matches against established Premier League sides have been challenging, and while there have been moments of competitiveness, Ipswich have struggled to turn performances into points. Two draws, against Fulham and Southampton, show they can hold their own against mid-table opposition, but their overall return from these winnable fixtures has been underwhelming. For a newly promoted side looking to survive, taking just two points from those games is not enough, and Ipswich will need to start picking up results against direct rivals to avoid falling further into trouble.

The club made significant investments over the summer, bringing in a host of new players to prepare for the step up to Premier League football. With around seven or eight of those signings regularly starting, Ipswich essentially have a new-look squad, which brings its own set of challenges. The lack of cohesion is to be expected, and McKenna is working to integrate these players into a coherent system. This bedding-in process has undoubtedly contributed to their slow start, but there are signs that Ipswich could grow into the season as the squad gels.

One bright spark has been the form of 21-year-old striker Liam Delap, who arrived in the summer and has already made a noticeable impact. With four goals in seven appearances, Delap has proven himself to be a handful for defenders and a consistent goal threat. His physicality, movement, and finishing ability have been key for Ipswich, and if he continues to develop, he could be the player to fire the club to safety. McKenna will be looking to build the team’s attacking play around Delap, and ensuring he gets the right service will be vital for Ipswich’s hopes of finding their first win.McKenna himself remains one of the more highly regarded young managers in the country, known for his tactical flexibility and ability to develop players. Despite the slow start, there’s confidence that he can mould this squad into a competitive Premier League team. However, time is of the essence. With Ipswich’s current position, the pressure is starting to mount, and McKenna will be desperate to see his side take three points against a fellow struggler like Everton.

Everton’s start to the Premier League season has been disappointing, with just five points from seven games leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone. While their performance level has been inconsistent, there are some reasons for cautious optimism in recent weeks. Sean Dyche, under significant pressure for much of the campaign, appears to be finding a way to get more out of his limited squad, and Everton have shown signs of improvement, even if results haven’t fully reflected that yet.

Financial difficulties have severely restricted Everton’s ability to invest in the squad, with the club’s ownership situation still unresolved. This has left Dyche working with a group of players that, by Premier League standards, is short on quality. Despite this, the former Burnley manager has begun to instil some stability and resilience into the side. Known for his pragmatic approach, Dyche has focused on shoring up Everton’s defensive structure and trying to make the team harder to beat, though the Toffees have still struggled in front of goal at times.

One player who has thrived under Dyche’s guidance is Dwight McNeil. The winger has been Everton’s standout performer so far this season, contributing three goals and two assists, and is arguably playing the best football of his career. McNeil has become a key attacking outlet for the Toffees, with his ability to beat defenders and deliver dangerous crosses adding a much-needed spark to an otherwise blunt attack. His form will be crucial if Everton are to pull themselves out of the lower reaches of the table.

Everton’s recent uptick in form can be traced back to a few encouraging performances. While their 2-1 win over Brentford was a welcome result, they have also delivered more competitive showings against some of the league’s tougher opposition. Dyche will hope that his side can build on these displays and start putting together a consistent run of form. A win against Ipswich, one of the few teams below them in the table, would be a vital step towards doing just that.

This game will not be not be televised live in the UK, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Merseyside.

Ipswich Team News:

The Tractor Boys are doing very well in the fitness department, with Jens Cajuste and Axel Tuanzebe the only absentees coming into this game.

Kieran McKenna will likely make changes after a heavy defeat to West Ham last time out, with Sammie Szmodics vying to reclaim his place in the starting lineup.

Predicted lineup: Muric; Johnson, O'Shea, Geaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap.

Everton Team News:

The Toffees will once again be without Armando Broja, Séamus Coleman and Youssef Chermiti.

Jarrad Branthwaite, however, should be fit enough to be part of the matchday squad, but whether or not he will start remains to be seen.

Predicted lineup: Pickford; Garner, Tarkowski, Keane, Young; Doucouré, Mangala; Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin.

Ipswich's form is not brilliant, with McKenna's men having drawn four and lost one of their last five games. Their latest outing was a heavy 4-1 defeat to West Ham, where despite taking an early lead through Liam Delap, the Hammers hit back with aplomb and simply had too much quality for Ipswich.

Their four prior games did, though, contain plenty of positives, with results including a 2-2 draw against Champions League side Aston Villa, a 1-1 draw against Southampton, a 0-0 draw against Brighton and a 1-1 draw against Fulham.

Everton's league form has seen them win one, draw two and lose two of their last five games. Most recently, Sean Dyche's side drew 0-0 with Newcastle United, a solid result that saw Jordon Pickford save an Anthony Gordon penalty.

That result followed Everton's first win of the season, where a Dwight McNeil brace saw them topple Crystal Palace 2-1.

Prior to that, Everton drew 1-1 with Leicester City, lost 3-2 to Aston Villa and lost 2-3 to Bournemouth.

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