Everton host Swansea City at Goodison Park on Monday night.
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Everton will beat Swansea City 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday night.
Everton have enjoyed a decent upturn in form under new boss Sam Allardyce, beating Newcastle United 1-0 in midweek to continue their resurgence.
Allardyce was in the stands for the 4-0 win over West Ham United, and then took charge of the 2-0 win against Huddersfield and 1-1 draw with Liverpool before beating Newcastle in midweek.
Swansea manager Paul Clement
Everton now appear to be looking upwards, but the same can’t be said of Monday’s opponents, Swansea City, who find themselves bottom of the table.
Swansea were thumped 4-0 by Manchester City in midweek, and remain propping up the table after scoring just nine goals in 17 Premier League games this season.
Paul Clement is under increasing pressure as Swansea sit four points adrift of safety, whilst with just three victories this season, only West Brom have won fewer Premier League games this season.
Ahead of Monday’s game, pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Everton are on the up whilst Swansea struggle, pointing out that former Swans playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson is starting to show his best form again following a summer move to Everton.
Lawrenson added that Everton’s upturn in defensive form is far from lucky under Allardyce, and is backing the Toffees to claim a 2-0 win against a struggling Swans side.
“Everton are another team on the up, while Swansea are still struggling,” said Lawrenson. “It is interesting to see Wayne Rooney playing so well for the Toffees, while former Swansea playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson is looking more like his old self too. You have got to give Sam Allardyce credit, because he inherited the same imbalanced squad they had at the start of the season, only he is getting results with it.”
“Yes, he has had a bit of luck but that is allowed – don’t we all want a lucky manager? But it is not a surprise that Everton have kept a clean sheet in four of Allardyce’s five games in charge so far – luck is not involved there. This is a far more important game for Swansea than their previous one, their 4-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. It will be a lot closer too, but I think it will end in the same way,” he added.
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