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Liverpool and Everton meet in enticing Merseyside derby with both sides seeking better league form
Liverpool to win 2-1
Tournament: Premier League 2020-2021 | Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, Anfield
Bet NowDespite Liverpool’s poor league form of late, you always expect a response from the Premier League champions under Jurgen Klopp, and that’s exactly what they produced in midweek.
A 2-0 win was enough to see off RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League game, something which should give them confidence coming into the second Merseyside derby of the season.
The Reds, however, must improve their league form, having lost three on the spin, slipping out of the top four, with Klopp now admitting that retaining the title is no longer possible.
As for Everton, three points behind their close rivals, they have tasted defeat in their last two games, rather surprisingly to Fulham although very expectedly against Manchester City.
Main striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been forced out of those games with injury, but could start the game here if he passes a late fitness test.
With both sides searching for form, this is likely to be a cracker.
Form Guide (all comps): WLLLW
Reasons to be cheerful:
Forwards are continuing to score goals despite poor form
Champions League win in midweek will surely boost confidence
Reasons to be fearful:
Will have been tough for Klopp to admit defeat in title race
Face an uphill battle for a top four spot now
The fact that we’re now discussing Liverpool being in a race for the top four is madness, considering just how dominant they have been over the past season and a half.
The Reds were top of the league on the 1st of January, but due to a poor run including five defeats from seven games, they’ve now slipped to 6th with teams around them all capitalising upon their poor form. Manchester City now appear to have stepped too far in front for anyone to catch them, with a 10-point gap at the top.
Liverpool’s home form is equally worrying, having lost the last three after going the previous 68 games without defeat.
Their injury list, as lengthy as it is, does not appear to have increased this week, and the Reds will once again will rely on the brilliance of Salah Mane upfront to cover up any weaknesses at the back.
Star Man – Mo Salah
Has been brilliant this season despite his side’s inconsistencies. Has 24 goals for the season and seven from his last seven.
Form Guide (all comps): WDWLL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Dominic Calvert-Lewin should be fit to start
Earned a 2-2 draw with Liverpool back in October
Reasons to be fearful:
Liverpool will demand a response from themselves after three home defeats
Have picked up fewer points than Liverpool over last six games
Everton’s away form will give them optimism for this match, having picked up 17 points from the last 21 available across the last seven games.
It is form largely inspired by talismanic striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is the first Everton player since Romelu Lukaku to score nine away goals in a single campaign.
Still, Everton must fear Liverpool’s wrath here, given the home side’s poor form of late. If Liverpool want to get back into the top four, they will need to start winning games again, and quickly.
Despite Liverpool’s poor form, Everton’s has actually been ever worse lately with just four points collected from the last five games. Although it’s no surprise to lose to Manchester City, there will be big question marks over the 2-0 defeats to Fulham and Newcastle recently.
It’ll take a big effort here.
Star Man – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Everton missed their top scorer in the defeats to Fulham and City. He scored in the 2-2 draw back in October and will be looking to repeat that here.
Merseyside derbies are always intense matches
Liverpool will shade possession but both sides will create chances
Both sides must win to continue top four chase
You feel that the loser here will write themselves out of the race for the top four. The gap could be as many as eight points by the end of the weekend.
Liverpool will fancy themselves as favourites despite their poor home form of late. That Champions League win in midweek will have proved to themselves that they still have the quality to challenge this season.
Liverpool to win 2-1
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