Liverpool will resume their march to the title this Sunday as they travel across town to lock horns with Everton in the Merseyside derby.
The hosts head into the game sitting in 12th position with 37 points on the board. With their season far from convincing so far, Everton will be looking to put up a positive performance in this tie and perhaps give their fans something to cheer about. They will also be looking to draw blood from their fierce rivals and perhaps prolong their wait for their first league title in 30 years.
Liverpool meanwhile head into the game sitting atop the tree with 82 points. They will be looking to continue where they left off before the season’s enforced break and pick up all three points here.
The Reds know that victory here will leave them with just one win to seal their maiden Premier League title, so taking all three points here is a priority for them. They will also be pushed on by a chance of beating Everton three times in one season.
Team News
Everton are perhaps the side with the most injury crises despite not playing for over 100 days. Fabian Delph, Andre Gomes, and Theo Walcott are all missing in action for Carlo Ancelotti, while Colombian defender is also out with a muscle injury.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to start with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, who missed out on their most recent friendly with Blackburn Rovers. Only Xhedran Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne are injury absentees for Liverpool.
Head to head
Everton are looking for their first win over Liverpool since 2010. Liverpool have won just two of the last five PL games between both sides though, with the other three ending in draws.
Team Form
Everton last five competitive games: LDLWW
Liverpool last five competitive games: LWLLW
Betting Preview
Everton entered this season with European ambitions, but so far, their expectations have been far from met. With 37 points on the board at this stage of the season, only a miracle, beginning with a win here, can salvage the season for Carlo Ancelloti’s men.
They head into this tie with no win from their last three PL games. However, they are yet to lose in seven home games (W4, D3).
Four of those seven home games saw both teams score, although Everton netted first in each of those occasions that saw a team score.
The hosts are strong starters with eleven first half wins (D14, L4) while scoring 23 times—only Liverpool have lost less first halves than Everton.
However, their second-half reading leaves them with just 25 points from 14 games. The hosts have scored only 14 times in 29 second-halves while conceding 28 times.
Liverpool meanwhile head into this game needing only six points to seal their title.
Their last five games before the season’s suspension saw them record three losses and two wins—with that period being the first time the league leaders loss two consecutive matches in all competitions this season. They also conceded up to three goals in a PL match for the first time this season in that period.
Despite that, the league leaders remain the league’s most in-form side with fifteen points from the last available 18.
They have conceded 21 PL goals this season with only 12 coming away from home—the fewest in the league.
The visitors are strong in both halves, with their goals distributed almost equally across both halves. However, they often tend to tire out at the close of games, having conceded five more goals in the second period.
Suggested bets
Liverpool to win @ 3/5
Liverpool to win both halves @ 3/2
Under 2.5 Goals @ 13/10
