FA Cup 3rd round: Hull can add to Toffees' sticky spell

Rafael Benitez's Liverpool connections meant he was never going to be a universally popular appointment as Everton manager. But even those fans who did not agree with the board's choice of successor to Carlo Ancelotti would have backed Benitez to make the Toffees harder to beat.

That hasn't been the case of late. Everton have lost eight of their last 11 matches and are now way down in 15th place in the Premier League table. Unless they can arrest their decline quickly, a battle against relegation cannot be ruled out - our traders give them an 8% chance of finishing in the bottom three.

Although many of the club's problems go beyond Benitez, the Spaniard is under considerable pressure. Defeat in this FA Cup third-round tie could force the board to act, although the fact Everton moved quickly to bring in two new players (Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson) this month suggests Benitez retains the backing of his superiors for now.

The 61-year-old will point to Everton's recent injury crisis as the main cause for the downturn in form. They have certainly been unfortunate with absentees, but the club's fan base does not want to hear any more excuses.

Hull yet to pull clear from Championship relegation zone

After the opening weekend of the campaign, Hull sat top of the Championship table. Since then, however, they have been in or around the bottom three. A recent six-match unbeaten run saw the Tigers threaten to pull clear of the drop zone, but back-to-back defeats over the festive period leaves them just four points and three places above the dreaded dotted line.

Grant McCann's side have lost 13 of their 24 league matches this term, but they are capable of some fine performances on their day. The Tigers have a mid-table defensive record and Everton's attack should not expect an easy evening at the MKM Stadium.

Scoring goals has been more of an issue for Hull thus far, with Barnsley the only second-tier team to have put the ball in the back of the net less often. George Honeyman, an attack-minded midfielder, has scored four goals in his last eight appearances and could be worth a punt at 7.2 to get on the scoresheet any time.

Toffees could come unstuck if Benitez rotates

Benitez is in a tricky position. Everton still have several key players out injured, so there is not as much scope for them to rotate to the extent their manager might like. Benitez is also under huge pressure, which makes this game more important than it ordinarily might have been.

Even so, Everton are unlikely to name their strongest possible side given that a crunch clash with Leicester City lies ahead on Tuesday. If they field what is in effect a second-string side, a price of 4 on Hull to win will look like fantastic value.

Everton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League outings, so even a goal-shy Hull will back themselves to find the net. Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals is attractive at 2.36.

Recommended bets

Hull City to win at 4

Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 2.36

George Honeyman to score any time at 7.2