Everton vs Liverpool: predictions and tips

The 288th Merseyside derby is arguably the most difficult to call for a number of years with Premier League leaders Everton set to entertain wounded champions Liverpool at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Jurgen Klopp’s side make the short trip across Stanley Park looking to bounce back from their worst ever Premier League defeat, but they come up against an Everton side leading the way as the only team in the top flight to have won four from four so far this season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were hammered 7-2 by Aston Villa in a bizarre result before the international break and will be looking to bounce straight back.

It has been an anniversary-filled international break for Liverpool, who celebrated five years under Klopp last week and a decade of being owned by Fenway Sports Group on Thursday.

In a quirk to the fixture calendar, the match will mark the 10-year anniversary of Everton’s last victory over their city rivals, while it will also be five years to the day since Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool for the first time.

Everton are in the best position to beat Liverpool than they have been in years and are a team brimming with confidence going into the game.

The Reds will be wounded despite having the international break to regroup, and Everton can take advantage and get the three points.

Reason for Everton vs Liverpool Predictions:

• Everton have lost just one of their last eight home games against Liverpool.
• Seven of these eight meetings have ended as draws.
• Everton have won all seven competitive games this season.
• Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in each of Everton’s Premier League games this season, netting six in total.
• Liverpool are on a club record run of 22 unbeaten matches in all competitions versus Everton (W11, D11).
• Everton are winless in the 19 Premier League meetings since their 2-0 home victory in October 2010 (D11, L8).
• The last three derbies hosted by Everton have finished goalless.

The 10 years since Everton last won the Merseyside derby have seen 19 Premier League meetings and 22 across all competitions – Liverpool’s joint-longest unbeaten run against any opponent in their history.

Heading into the 288th Merseyside Derby, Liverpool hold the advantage over their city rivals, having won 121 of the previous 287 clashes. Everton have beaten the Reds 82 times, while there have been 84 draws in games between these two sides.

The last three Merseyside Derbies at Goodison Park have all ended in goalless draws. The last goal in a Goodison Park derby came in December 2016.

Liverpool haven’t won at Everton since 2016, with this fixture ending 0-0 in each of the last three seasons.

It’s been ten years and 22 meetings since Everton last tasted victory in the all-important Merseyside Derby, but Saturday’s clash marks the best opportunity in years to put an end to this miserable run.

Judged solely on this season’s matches, this game appears to promise goals – there have been 39 in their combined eight outings so far in 2020-21.

Everton are flying while Liverpool will still be reeling, but there is no doubting the quality the visitors have at their disposal.

We are expecting an improved performance from the Champions, though. Seven of the last eight Merseyside Derbies at Goodison have ended all square, and with these teams scoring at least two goals in seven of their combined eight Premier League games backing a high scoring 2-2 draw is our correct score prediction.

Our prediction: Draw 2-2 @ 12/1