Everton vs Liverpool

Goodison Park plays host to the latest installment of the famed Merseyside derby as Premier League strugglers Everton take on high-flying Liverpool in a mouth-watering encounter.

A horrific 1-0 defeat to the league newcomers Brentford at the weekend ramped up more heat on the under-fire manager Rafael Benitez, with Everton now riding on an embarrassing seven-match winless Premier League streak (D2, L5). Additionally, the ‘Toffees’ have now failed to find the net in their last three Premier League outings, which has been the case in four of their last five top-flight H2Hs as hosts (D4, L1). By extension, those donning the blue of Everton have not enjoyed their team’s home Premier League success in the Merseyside derby in the last ten such contests (D8, L2). On the bright side, though, Everton have suffered just one defeat in their previous 13 midweek Premier League fixtures (W7, D5), with a 3-1 reverse against Manchester City in February last season the solitary exception to this run.

In the meantime, Liverpool have hit the ground running since club football returned to action in mid-November, winning all three competitive matches by an aggregate score of 10-0, including a 4-0 thumping of Southampton at the weekend. With Premier League pacesetters Chelsea now within a two-point distance, the ‘Reds’ will be gunning for the top spot, encouraged by their free-scoring form on the road. Jurgen Klopp’s men have netted 2+ goals in their last 13 away games in all competitions. Home and away, they have bagged at least two goals in 17 straight matches, meaning they could make an unprecedented feat in English football history if they put two past Everton. Though they lost 3-2 to West Ham in their most recent Premier League travel, it’s worth noting that Liverpool haven’t lost back-to-back league games on hostile turf since February 2017.