The Merseyside Derby ranks among the oldest rivalries in football history, and the 245th meeting between these two teams promises to be particularly poignant for Everton’s fans. This match signifies the final Premier League encounter between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park, a ground they’ve cherished for over 130 years. The atmosphere is expected to be electric as supporters strive to create lasting memories.
Confidence that the players can match this fervour has been bolstered by a recent 4-0 victory against Wolves midweek, ending a streak of five games without a win (D3, L2). Under Sean Dyche’s leadership, the team now seeks consecutive wins for the first time since April, when they achieved three straight victories, including a notable 2-0 triumph over Liverpool on home turf.
That outcome halted the Reds’ recent supremacy over their adversaries, given Liverpool had emerged victorious in four of their previous five encounters (D1), marking just their second loss in the last 30 head-to-head meetings (W15, D13). Arne Slot’s squad is keen to reassert their dominance after a frustrating 3-3 stalemate with Newcastle midweek trimmed their Premier League lead to seven points.
Under Slot’s guidance, they’ve adeptly rebounded with eight and seven-match winning streaks following their two earlier winless stretches this season. A pressing concern, however, is their defensive vulnerabilities away from home; despite boasting the league’s top defence, they have allowed 2+ goals in each of their last four away fixtures (W2, D2).
Players to keep an eye on: Dominic Calvert-Lewin aims to capitalise on Liverpool’s recent lacklustre defence, having found the net in his last two matches against them at Goodison Park. Surpassing Mohamed Salah’s prowess will be challenging, especially as the Egyptian has scored in seven consecutive Premier League matches against Newcastle. After assisting Curtis Jones’ goal, Salah now holds the record for scoring and assisting in more Premier League games than anyone else.
Interesting statistic: Only three of the past 14 head-to-head encounters have seen both teams score.
