Premier League: Goodison Prepares for Derby Drama

Everton vs Liverpool

A derby match is a great leveller in football.

An occasion where fans really back their team to the hilt and love nothing more than getting one over their city or town rivals.

Bragging rights matter, make no mistake, whether you’re out on the pitch or in the stands.

It can also be when the form book goes out of the window.

On saying all of that, it will take some turn of form if the underdogs are to triumph in this Wednesday night’s Premier League clash at Goodison Park.

Talking Points

That is because while one team is very much in form, the other is truly out of form.

In fact, it’s been two months since they last tasted success in the league – a 2-0 home win against strugglers Norwich.
Granted, hosts Everton have had genuine reasons for their dismal run.

The absence of key men, most notably frontmen Richarlison and last season’s top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, have been greatly missed.
However, that doesn’t fully explain five defeats and two draws in their last seven – their longest such run since April 2016 under Roberto Martinez (who was sacked a month later).

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And even with Richarlison due to return, it appears to be a big ask to expect them to stop arch-rivals Liverpool when they visit.
Yet there are three factors why the Toffees can’t be ruled out in this one.

One is that Everton were in the middle of a poor run of form – similar although not quite as alarming – last February when they promptly went to Anfield and earned their first Merseyside derby success in over a decade.

Secondly, their fans will be urging them on and a packed Goodison can be intimidating for many a side.

Thirdly, in Rafa Benitez, Everton have a manager who was a fans’ favourite at Liverpool and, if his current side cave in as easily as they have in previous weeks, he will receive a torrent of abuse and soon be out of a job.

After Sunday’s defeat at Brentford, Everton’s players wandered over to salute the travelling fans, who greeted the gesture with clear displeasure. There were howls of fury and frustration as well as a fair few V-signs, and it was hard not to sympathise with those who had made the journey from Merseyside to west London on a bitterly cold day.

Premier League: Everton will try to redeem themselves following a disappointing defeat to Brentford — Everton player looking dejected after losing away from home against Brentford

For Everton, winter is well and truly here and a much-improved performance will be demanded.

Liverpool have their own reasons to make their arch-rivals suffering continue.

Despite it being a complete accident, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and a number of his players were angry during this fixture last season when a reckless tackle by Jordan Pickford led to Virgil van Dijk sustaining an injury which ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

That Pickford went on to play a starring role in the reverse fixture at Anfield four months later – a 2-0 Everton success – will only have irritated them further and it will be interesting to see if they can put inner anger to one side on Wednesday.

Certainly, judging by Klopp’s spiky comments following Liverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Southampton on Saturday – similar to those nine months ago which backfired on the German – that has not been forgotten.

On so many levels then, this could be a feisty night on Merseyside full of passion and Premier League highlights.

History

It is a rich and illustrious history that captures the imagination whether you’re a ‘blue’ or a ‘red’.

Liverpool have traditionally held the upper hand with 120 wins to Everton’s 82. There have also been 85 draws.

You have to go back to October 2010 for the last time Everton won the Merseyside derby at home. That afternoon, goals from fans’ favourite Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta sealed a 2-0 success at a raucous Goodison Park.

The only survivors from that afternoon all belong to Everton with Seamus Coleman who could be involved this week.

Since then, they have met on 23 occasions (17 in the league and twice in the FA Cup) with Liverpool winning 10 times and 12 meetings ending all square.

This meeting last season was a thrilling 2-2 draw as Everton twice fought back to earn a point.