EFL Cup third round predictions, betting odds and tips: Troubled Toffees can bounce back

Best bets

Everton
2pts Evs Hills

Crystal Palace
2pts 7-10 Hills

EFL Cup third round predictions

Everton continued their miserable start to the Premier League season with a 3-2 loss at Aston Villa on Saturday but they can give their long-suffering fans some relief by defeating top flight rivals Southampton in the EFL Cup.

League points are the main priority for Toffees boss Sean Dyche, who has replaced Erik ten Hag as the clear favourite to be the first Premier League manager to leave his job.

However, Dyche will be aware of the potential value of a cup run in terms of lifting the club's spirits and he is likely to send out a strong side.

The 53-year-old selected an experienced team for the second-round clash at home to Doncaster and was rewarded with a 3-0 victory.

He will be looking for a similar performance and result against Southampton and could get his wish in a contest which looks of greater importance to the home side than the visitors.

Southampton are in the same boat as Everton having lost all four Premier League games but they appear less likely to risk senior players in pursuit of an EFL Cup boost.

The south-coast side advanced to this stage with a 5-3 victory away to Cardiff which featured wholesale changes for both teams.

Saints manager Russell Martin is planning to give his second string another chance to impress but the tactic could backfire in what looks like a much more difficult fixture.

Crystal Palace are just a point above Southampton and Everton in the Premier League standings but they can give themselves a boost by defeating Championship hosts QPR  at Loftus Road.

Eagles head coach Oliver Glasner selected a strong side in the previous round and watched them romp to a 4-0 victory at home to Norwich.

The Austrian seems keen to progress in the competition and he can come up with a winning formula against the Hoops, who are mid-table in the second tier and have not kept a clean sheet since the start of the season.

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