Swansea v Everton preview: Roberto Martinez takes on old employers

Image: Everton manager Roberto Martinez has overseen a positive start

Everton manager Roberto Martinez returns to his former club on Saturday as Swansea welcome the in-form Toffees.

Martinez played and managed the Swans at various times between 2003-2009, winning promotion from League One to the Championship in 2008.

Everton travel to south Wales in buoyant mood after beating the reigning champions Chelsea 3-1 at Goodison Park last weekend. 

Swansea enjoyed a resounding 3-0 victory over Everton in the Capital One Cup last season but have yet to beat them in 20 league attempts.

Paul Merson joins Ed Chamberlin to preview this weekend's Premier League fixtures

Team news

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Swansea are at full strength for the weekend as Jefferson Montero has recovered following a thigh injury.

Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng is available after flying home to South Korea following the Watford game to attend the birth of his first child.

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Garry Monk is looking forward to coming up against his former manager Roberto Martinez

Everton could have Seamus Coleman and Muhamed Besic available.

Defender Coleman and midfielder Besic both came off in last weekend's victory over Chelsea due to hamstring problems, but Toffees boss Martinez has reported the pair have reacted well to treatment and are not being ruled out of the trip to Wales.

Opta stats

The Welsh side have lost three of their four PL meetings with Everton at the Liberty Stadium (D1), netting just two goals in the process.

Bafetimbi Gomis has scored nine goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez responds to questions over whether John Stones has been offered a new contract

Swansea City have won just three of their 15 Premier League games played in September (W3 D3 L9).

Ross Barkley has assisted more goals in his last four Premier League games (3) than he had in his previous 77 appearances in the competition (2).

Martinez has overseen two wins and two draws in his four Premier League games as Everton boss against the Swans.

Merson's prediction

Image: Romelu Lukaku is a 6/1 shot to score first with Sky Bet

Everton have picked up now, and Swansea have started well, but they've had some ropy results recently at Sunderland and Watford. You have to find a level of consistency if you are going to challenge higher up the league.

It will be a really open game, and I can't pick these two apart. There are goals in this. Everton have Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku, Swansea will have Jefferson Montero back. There are plenty of options.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)

Betting

Swansea are Sky Bet's 5/4 favourites for the victory on Saturday, with Everton 9/4 and the draw priced at 23/10. Bafetimbi Gomis heads the goalscorer betting at 5/1 with Romelu Lukaku considered the Toffees' biggest threat at 6/1, while the strike duo both to net is a 9/1 chance. Jamie Redknapp and the Soccer Saturday pundits have provided their correct score and first goalscorer predictions, available at Sky Bet here.

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