Top BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has heaped praise on Marco Silva’s new-look Everton side, as the former Liverpool defender backed the Blues to beat Watford.
Lawrenson expects the Hornets to put up much more of a fight when they travel to Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon, having suffered a bad day at the office in their curtain-raiser at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, who stormed to a 3-0 away win.
Javi Gracia’s Vicarage Road natives were not out of their opening weekend fixture, though, as they enjoyed an even share of possession and fashioned vastly more efforts on goal, but failed to make the pressure count against a Seagulls side spearheaded by £20million signing Neal Maupay.
Watford likewise introduced fresh blood into their side by handing Craig Dawson his competitive debut, but were without late additions Danny Welbeck and record signing Ismaila Sarr.
Lawrenson, though, feels Everton will have too much firepower for the Hornets to handle when they arrive on Merseyside, as we enjoyed a solid transfer window with Moise Kean, Alex Iwobi, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Fabian Delph acquired alongside a permanent deal for Andre Gomes.
“Watford’s home defeat by Brighton was a bad result, but I would not say I am especially worried about them off the back of one game,” the former First Division and Champions League winner wrote. “They basically had a bad day.
“This is a tough game for the Hornets, though. There just seems to be a different outlook at Everton to last season, because they can see they have had a good transfer window.
“Everyone at Goodison Park is anticipating a better campaign, with better football, and I would back them to get the win here [2-0].”