Liverpool vs Everton Preview and Betting Tip

All eyes will be on Anfield this Saturday evening for the 238th Merseyside Derby. Liverpool vs Everton kicks off at 5.30pm and you can watch all the drama unfold live on Sky Sports. Jurgen Klopp’s side are clear favourites (4/9) after their vital win vs Leipzig in midweek. Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees are as big as 13/2 in some places and the draw can be backed at 18/5. Recent editions of this Derby have mostly been tight and tense affairs and there is rarely more than a goal or two in them. Hopefully this is one of the more exciting renewals, check out our preview and betting tip below.

No Home Comforts For Reds

On Tuesday night in Budapest a weight was lifted off Jurgen Klopp’s shoulders. His under-fire team came away with a 2-0 win from the first leg of their Champions League tie vs RB Leipzig and that result should give Liverpool a massive confidence boost. However, I wasn’t overly impressed by their performance and the two goals came via a couple of dreadful Leipzig errors. They only really created one clear cut chance for Mo Salah which was saved by Peter Gulasci in the RB Leipzig goal.

The Reds did look better out of possession than they have in recent weeks and Oban Kazak produced an encouraging display alongside Jordan Henderson at the heart of their defence. However, Alisson had to make a smart save to keep it at 0-0 just before half time and Leipzig also rattled the woodwork with an early header. If either of those chances had gone in it could have been a very different game.

So, can Liverpool end their terrible run of form in the Premier League? Since December 27 they have won just 2 of their 10 EPL fixtures. Their 2 wins during that run came away from Anfield at Spurs and West Ham. In their 5 home games since that date they have scored just twice and have failed to win (D2 L3). Their only goal in their 1-4 loss to Man City came from the penalty spot so it has been over 430 minutes since they scored from open play at their own stadium. All things considered, 4/9 about the home win looks a shade skinny.

Lots At Stake For The Toffees

This is one of the biggest Merseyside Derbies for Everton in years. Usually there isn’t a lot at stake for The Blues in these games bar local bragging rights but this season it is different. The Toffees can draw level on points with their rivals with a win and they have played a game less. Carlo Ancelotti’s team is knocking on the door of the Top 4 but their form has stuttered in the last couple of weeks.

There was no shame in losing to Man City in midweek but the previous 2-0 loss to Fulham was worrying. The Cottagers had more possession, more shots on target and they thoroughly deserved to win. Everton have goalkeeping issues too. Robin Olsen and Jordan Pickford have both looked less than convincing and when your ‘keeper is struggling that can permeate through the rest of the team, especially the defence.

Everton have lost 2 in a row in the EPL and they have won just 1 of their last 6. Like their opponents, they have struggled on their own patch where they have lost 4 of their last 5. However, their Premier League away form is outstanding. They have lost just twice on the road this season and they are unbeaten in 7 (W5 D2). That is why they are still in the hunt for a top 4 finish and they will fancy their chances of pulling off an upset win.

Dire Anfield Record For Everton

If recent clashes between these two teams are anything to go by there will be very little between them. Liverpool’s big 5-2 win at Anfield is the exception but apart from that game, only one goal separated these two teams in the other 4 matches. However, Everton’s dire record at Anfield cannot be ignored. They haven’t won there since Kevin Campbell scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory in September 1999.

Liverpool vs Everton: Head-To-Head

Although recent Merseyside Derbies have generally been close, Everton have failed to actually win one since 2010. 4 of the last 7 have finished level and 3 of those draws were scoreless. On the injury front, the hosts will still be without Fabinho but Naby Keita could make the bench. Everton will be boosted by the return of their talismanic centre forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin but Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina will be unavailable.

Toffees Can Put It Up To ‘Pool

It is hard to understand why the bookies are being so dismissive of Everton, even if they have lost their last two. The Toffees have the 4th best away record in the Premier League this season, winning 7 from 11 on the road and losing just twice. Liverpool, who had looked unbeatable at Anfield, have failed to win their last 5 there, have failed to score from open play in the last 4 and they have lost 3 home games in a row.

So, can Everton get their first win at Anfield in over 20 years? The return of Calvert-Lewin gives them every chance of doing so. Leipzig’s decision not to play with a proper striker made life easy for Henderson and Kabak in Hungary but that won’t be the case with Lewin leading the line. He scored the late equaliser at Goodison earlier this season and it will be fascinating to see how Kabak copes with his considerable physical presence.

From a betting perspective, Everton look extremely tempting at 13/2. However, given the amount of draws there has been in this fixture recently, I am going to play it safe and back The Toffees in the Draw No Bet market at 9/2. If it does finish level it could easily be scoreless so I am going to have another little bet on the ‘No Goalscorer’ market at odds of 14/1.

Liverpool vs Everton Tips: Everton/Draw No Bet @ 9/2 (skybet); No Goalscorer @ 14/1 (betfred).

Key Quotes – Liverpool vs Everton

Jurgen Klopp – Speaking about the fiery Derby in October: “Nothing will be carried over. A week later, two or three when we got the diagnosis for Virgil, it is good we didn’t play Everton again, let me say it like this. Now we just don’t think about it, but it’s still a derby and that’s enough to be motivated.”

Carlo Ancelotti – “Every Derby you play against Liverpool, you want to win. It’s a long time since Everton won a Derby. It could be the right time tomorrow. It depends on what we are able to do on the pitch & only this.”

Dave Stevos