Monday 19th December 2016 Kickoff: 2000hrs
Everton v Liverpool
Football – England – Premier League
The first Merseyside derby of the season takes place at Goodison Park this evening as Everton play host to a Liverpool side looking to close the gap on leaders Chelsea and retake second place. Everton, on the other hand, will be buoyed by defeating Arsenal last week in what was only their second win in 11 league games. As we know with this fixture, however, form very much goes out the window and it will be about which teams applies themselves on the evening that will succeed.
A very positive start for Everton under Ronald Koeman got the Toffee supporters excited for the season ahead but it has not continued into recent weeks and months. A lack of goals at one end mixed with conceding too many at the other has proved extremely troubling for the Dutch coach who was brought in to replace Roberto Martinez over the summer. Koeman will be hoping that the win over Arsenal last Tuesday will prove to be a defining point in their season but the challenge does not get much easier with the visit of a Liverpool team who have been in scintillating form for much of the campaign. Everton’s record in this fixture is also not great so there’s another trend they have to buck.
Jurgen Klopp has been in charge at Liverpool for well over a year now and ironically enough, this was Brendan Rodgers’ (the man he replaced at Anfield) last ever fixture before being relieved of his duties. After an excellent first three months of the campaign where they won at both Chelsea and Arsenal which seen them climb to the top of the table, there has just been a little stutter of late. A disastrous last half hour against Bournemouth resulted in them losing their first game since the second match of the season. It was followed up with another disappointing performance and result when drawing 2-2 at home to West Ham but the reds have got themselves back on track with an authoritative win against Middlesbrough last midweek.
Everton v Liverpool Betting Tips
This is often referred to as the friendly derby as the game splits loyalties between family and friends but there is little companionship shown during the 90 minutes when the game is played. The derby, particularly when played at Goodison as it is this evening, is frenetic and physical and both teams will have to meet that challenge first and foremost. Everton displayed some of those qualities for the first time in a long time in the win over Arsenal last week and considering the quality and options that Liverpool have in their ranks, you would imagine they will have to do something similar in order to get a result.
The blues home form remains one of their biggest assets as they are still unbeaten at Goodison Park in the league – their last defeat in the top flight came back in April. Liverpool’s away record is also very decent with the aforementioned wins at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates contributing to five wins on the road in the league.
Following that win over Arsenal this has the makings of being much more exciting than what it may have been if Everton had failed to get a result from that game considering the form they have been in. That success should breed some more confidence and we all know that Liverpool are arguably the most exciting team going forward in the Premier League. Six of the last eight meetings between the two have ended in a draw and I think there is some merits in going down that route once again. The blues are solid at home and will make life difficult for Liverpool who themselves have went off the boil slightly. I expect goals as well so it may be worth backing a correct score of 1-1 or 2-2 for a small interest but the selection is for a share of the spoils.
Draw 5/2 @ Bet365
