Everton v Liverpool – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Everton face Liverpool The Toffees have won their last two home matches and face a Reds side who have drawn 0-0 on four of their last six trips to Goodison Park with just one victory.

Everton Form

After a 13-match winless streak in the league, Everton have won two of their last three matches. After conceding late to lose 2-1 at Bournemouth, a 1-1 draw at Newcastle followed thanks to scoring a late penalty. That result was a boost and two wins have followed.

Everton beat Burnley 1-0 at home after facing ten men for the second half and scoring a freak goal. A 6-0 humiliation followed away at Chelsea. Last weekend, Sean Dyche’s side beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at home with just 0.34 xG produced. There were several penalty shouts denied by the opposition.

Everton Team News

Dyche continues to doubt top striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He started the last match but has a niggling knee injury. Beto went off with a concussion last weekend and will play no part here.

Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman are absent at right back so either Ashley Young or Ben Godfrey will deputise. Lewis Dobbin and Dele Alli are both unavailable.

Everton Motivation

The Toffees would be delighted with a point here. Expect a defensive and abrasive approach, even as the home team.

Everton won’t care about possession numbers and will focus on transitions and set pieces as a route to scoring.

Liverpool Form

The Reds have had a dip of late with just five wins in the last ten matches. After a 4-3 FA Cup loss at Man Utd, they beat Brighton 2-1 and Sheffield United 3-1 at home. A 2-2 draw at Man Utd in the league saw them outshot the Red Devils 15-0 in the first half.

After losing 3-0 at home to Atalanta, they suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to Crystal Palace despite 2.81 xG produced. Two strong results have followed. Liverpool won 1-0 away to Atalanta, albeit to lose 3-1 on aggregate. On Sunday, they won 3-1 away at Fulham.

Liverpool Team News

Jurgen Klopp is without Conor Bradley, Joel Matip, and Thiago Alcantara due to injuries. It’s a clean bill of health otherwise. Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch will hope to keep their places in the midfield three.

In attack, Mo Salah was dropped for the Fulham game, and it’s not guaranteed he will start here. It could be Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz in wide areas with either Darwin Nunez or Diogo Jota as the central striker.

Liverpool Motivation

Every game for Liverpool now is a must-win. Another draw at Goodison Park would be seen as a terrible result.

Jurgen Klopp’s team have no choice but to attack as even a draw could end their title challenge.

Key Stats

Everton have won just twice in 16 league matches (8 losses, 6 draws)

Everton have drawn 5 of their last 6 home matches against Liverpool (four 0-0 draws)

Liverpool have lost 3 of their last 8 matches

Liverpool have scored 14 goals in their last 5 away matches

Verdict

This match is typically a real banana skin for Liverpool. They should have enough to eke out a win considering how damaging any dropped points would be.