Everton vs Liverpool preview
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers could do with Sunday’s Merseyside derby being a watershed moment for Liverpool’s season.
The Reds moved into the top-half of the table after defeating Aston Villa 3-2 last time out, but Rodgers remains a manager under pressure as the fans expect to see progress in his fourth term in charge.
His team started well in the Europa League group game against Sion, but conceded a cheap goal and struggled to break the Swiss side in the second-half. The Anfield crowd booed the team at the end of the 1-1 draw, so Rodgers is under no illusions as to how the supporters are viewing the team.
Rodgers is also under pressure from a number of former Liverpool players who have criticised his work in recent weeks. All of this pressure can disappear, of course, with a good performance and a win at Goodison Park on Sunday. The Merseyside derby may no longer decide titles, but it remains the biggest game in Liverpool.
The Liverpool manager will draw confidence from the fact that virtually none of his key personnel started against Sion, so they will be fresh to face the Toffees.
Roberto Martinez, like Rodgers, started the season under pressure after Everton had a disappointing campaign last term. But the Toffees boss is breathing a lot easier these days, with Everton sitting fifth in the table, just three points behind the league leaders Manchester United.
They come into this game after securing a remarkable comeback against West Brom. The Toffees trailed 2-0 in the second-half at the Hawthorns, but came from behind to claim maximum points in a 3-2 victory.
Everton team news
Kevin Mirallas serves the last game of his three-match suspension.
Leighton Baines, Tom Cleverley (both ankle), Tony Hibbert (knee) and Steven Pienaar (hamstring) are all out injured.
John Stones (knee) and Seamus Coleman (hamstring) both missed Monday’s 3-2 win over West Brom, but should return in defence.
Liverpool team news
Rodgers is without injured quintet of Jon Flanagan (knee), Jordan Henderson (metatarsal fracture), Christian Benteke (hamstring), Dejan Lovren (ankle) and Roberto Firmino (back).
Everton vs Liverpool prediction
The Toffees looked nervy at the back at West Brom, so Stones and Coleman should restore the composure Everton lacked last time out. In midfield, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy are expected to be the central midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Ross Barkley is among the Premier League’s leaders for assists so far this term, so Martinez could task his talented playmaker to continue in the number 10 position.
Gerard Deulofeu was impressive at West Brom, so the winger could retain his place in the team, keeping the width on the right flank while Steven Naismith drifts inside as a left attacking midfielder supporting Romelu Lukaku.
Liverpool could continue with the wing-back system, which means Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno may provide width to the Reds’ attacks while Martin Skrtel, Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho form the back-three.
The Reds need a natural holding midfielder to deal with Naismith’s clever infield movements and Barkley’s driving runs, so Lucas Leiva could join James Milner in central midfield.
Philippe Coutinho is likely to create chances and link up play as the central attacking midfielder, while Danny Ings and Daniel Sturridge complete the visitors’ line-up as the centre forwards in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Recent games suggest that Liverpool players are feeling the pressure, so this is an ideal game for Everton to employ a high tempo start to overwhelm the Reds in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.
Five of the last six Merseyside derbies have ended in draws and Liverpool are undefeated against the Toffees in their last ten meetings so the Reds may find a way to secure a result despite their lack of form.
Score prediction
Everton 2-2 Liverpool.
