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Everton v Liverpool: The Strangest Merseyside Derby Ever?

Everton vs Liverpool
Premier League
Goodison Park, Walton
Sunday, 17th October 2010
13:30 BST

Whereas the Merseyside derby that lies in wait on Sunday afternoon may not have the makings of a classic, it will certainly be one of the most significant clashes between Everton and Liverpool in the two club’s ever-expanding canon.

Perhaps a tad unfairly for Everton (who too, are enduring a pretty doleful start to the season), the spotlight of the world’s glare will be firmly fixed on the exploits of their opponents – who’s tumultuous boardroom wranglings have been made very public over the past nine days.

As if the planets had aligned when the fixture list was drawn up, Liverpool’s ailing charges have been handed the perfect opportunity to earn themselves a temporary reprieve by finally pulling themselves out of the doldrums with a win over their bitter local rivals.

Click here to watch Everton v Liverpool live online.

The formbook:

Before the start of play on Saturday, Everton and Liverpool will find themselves occupying two of the bottom four rungs (17th and 18th respectively, which will slip to 18th and 19th if West Ham then beat Wolves or vice versa) of the Premier League ladder – with Everton’s slightly superior goal difference the only thing separating the two clubs.

Before the recent international break, Everton recorded their first league victory of the season by registering an impressive 2-0 victory over Birmingham at St. Andrews. In stark contrast, Liverpool slumped to a risible 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Blackpool – thus meaning that they would have to spend the next two fallow weeks rooted in the relegation zone.

Neither team has been particularly convincing of late, with Everton managing a paltry two Premier League victories in their last nine games, and Liverpool just the one. However, the ‘red half’ have a huge lead in the head-to-head stakes, having won five (and losing none) of the last seven league meetings between the two clubs.

Dirk Kuyt celebrates scoring against Everton in February

Last five Premier League meetings:

• 06/02/10, Liverpool 1-0 Everton, Anfield

• 29/11/09, Everton 0-2 Liverpool, Goodison

• 19/01/09, Liverpool 1-1 Everton, Anfield

• 27/09/08, Everton 0-2 Liverpool, Goodison

• 30/03/08, Liverpool 1-0 Everton, Anfield

The build-up in quotes:

“It’s going to be a massive game. Everton fans have been looking up to [Liverpool] for a long, long time and it’s about time we started putting pressure on them and finishing above them.

This season gives us a great chance of that. Both teams are at the wrong end of the table and that’s probably unprecedented for both the blue half and the red half of Merseyside to have the two teams in the bottom four.”

Everton captain Phil Neville is relishing the chance of putting one over the opposition.

“I don’t think it’s a crisis so I’m not too worried. Obviously the league table doesn’t look too good at the moment, but we are close and I feel if we get a bit of luck going our way or we pull one big performance out the bag, things can improve and we can move up the table.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is focused solely on keeping a level head amidst the current turmoil the club finds itself in.

“We’ve competed well in the derbies while I’ve been at Everton, but the results haven’t gone how we wanted and we’d like to get that right at the weekend.”

Everton left-back Leighton Baines is ready to redress the balance.

“I am looking forward to it. It would’ve been nice if we could have been in a better position though. I’m sure my colleague David [Moyes] would be saying the same thing. It’s a bit unusual to see a derby with both teams down there but I’m pretty sure we’ll see both teams in a better position for the next one.”

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson wishes he was facing his first Merseyside derby on a more stable footing.

“The win against Birmingham in our last game has given us confidence and we didn’t want to go into the derby without a win. We are playing at home and we need our first victory at home this season, and can’t choose a better time to do that against Liverpool.”

Everton playmaker Mikel Arteta is in a confident mood.

“If Liverpool lose it means there is absolutely no good news for players and management. It will not be doom and gloom on the playing side of things, it will be much, much darker than that.”

Although Liverpool legend and BBC pundit Alan Hansen is stereotypically plumping for an altogether more dour outlook.

Injury updates:

Everton will have to wait for a late fitness test before they can ascertain whether or not Phil Jagielka‘s troublesome hamstring strain has healed sufficiently, though Marouane Fellaini (hamstring), Steven Pienaar (groin), Louis Saha (knee), Jack Rodwell (ankle) and Victor Anichebe (knee) are all definitely ruled out.

Liverpool welcome Fernando Torres (who has scored three goals in three Premier League games against Everton) back to the fold but will have to do without the services of Dirk Kuyt (who himself has scored four goals in his last six Merseyside derbies) after the Dutch forward suffered a nasty ankle injury earlier this week whilst away on international duty. Defensive duo Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio are also likely to miss out on proceedings.

Prediction:

Past results seem to dictate that the spoils are there for the taking as far as Liverpool are concerned, but I foresee an outcome that will do neither side any particular favours.

Everton 2-2 Liverpool

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Topics: English Premier League, Everton, Features, Liverpool