Everton and Liverpool will meet for the first time in the Premier League at Goodison Park on matchday 14. The Toffees have made a poor start to the season, while Liverpool have been flying since the arrival of Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement in the summer.
As of the time of writing, Everton are 16th on the log after nine matches, while Liverpool sit in second place with 22 points – one point off league leaders Manchester City. The home side have won two games, while the visitors have won seven of their opening nine matches.
Everton have not been themselves in the last couple of years. After a slow start, they have recovered silently to stay in touch with the clubs above them and they can dream of another Premier League safety going by that. Meanwhile, manager Sean Dyche has tried his best to get his team firing, but injuries have not been kind to his side at all.
With so much investment in the squad in recent years, the team has been carefully strengthened and fans have been waiting for that change in fortune.
So far this term, the Toffees have won just two games, lost four, and drawn three. To put it in proper perspective, they lost their first four games of the season, but they are slowly getting better having gone four games without a defeat between mid-September and mid-October. Without any doubt, that can be considered some progress.
After his side’s latest win at Ipswich Town, Dyche had this to say; “In many different areas we looked a threat, and maybe you could argue the main gripe is that we didn’t score more goals, but our game management was good today.
‘People have questioned that, but it shows the team is learning – doing the hard bit, the ugly bit, to make sure we looked after ourselves. So there were a lot of pleasing aspects. I must say our fans have filled the away end again. It’s a long journey after some terrible weather so I thank them for their support as well.
‘Both our goals are good finishes. We know Keano is a very good finisher and we want goals to come in different ways so I’m pleased with that.
‘The most pleasing part, though, was how we handled the game. It’s not easy coming to these grounds because they’re full of energy and belief,’ the former Burnley manager concluded.
The Toffees have improved in the past couple of weeks. It shows they can get things done, and they will hope to build on that.
Meanwhile, the Reds have made credible progress under Slot following the departure of Jurgen Klopp after nearly a decade at Merseyside. As of the time of writing, the Reds have won seven of their opening eight games of the new Premier League campaign and are looking strong for the title alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.
“Everyone is realistic enough; all the players understand that six games into the season doesn’t give you a realistic view on the league table,” Slot told reporters about the title race back in late September.
“That is more like 19 games that you can feel, ‘Right, where are we?’. But it helps if you get some good results, especially if you bring in a new manager and being a successor of such a successful one. Everybody understands that if we’d have lost four or five of these first six fixtures life would have been a bit different to how it is now.”
As of the time of writing, their biggest result came in the 3-0 bashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford. However, they did lose 1-0 to Nottingham Forest surprisingly at home but it is well known that the side can do a lot more when they are in their element. They have managed to beat the likes of Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Brighton so far this term. Also, they needed a late equalizer to avoid defeat at Arsenal in late October.
In terms of the previous 63 meetings between the two sides since 1995, Everton have won 9 times, Liverpool have won 29, and 25 of those meetings have been stalemates. The number of draws are nearly half of the past meetings over that period. It is usually a very tight derby match, but the Reds still have the upper hand.
Match tickets
The epic match at Goodison Park in Liverpool kicks off on Saturday, 7th of December 2024 at 13:30 GMT.
The 39,572-capacity stadium will host this fixture.
Getting Everton vs Liverpool tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Line-ups
Sean Dyche, who has been under pressure since the start of the season, has been able to lead his side to some fine results back in October but they need just more than that to steer clear of the relegation zone. Injured trio Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson, and Armando Broja should be available for this game.
Everton XI: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Mangala, Doucoure; Harrison, McNeil, Ndiaye; Calvert-Lewin
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been battling some injury crisis of late, but he could possibly be available for this trip to Newcastle. If Alisson does not make it then Caoimhin Kelleher will start in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back and skipper Virgil Van Dijk to lead the rest of the backline. Alexis Mac Allister, who impressed last term, is expected to continue in midfield alongside the rejuvenated Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahim Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Mohamed Salah.
Prediction
Everton, over the past few seasons, have made poor starts to the Premier League season but they always find a way to get results that will keep them in the topflight at the end of the season. They have recovered slowly, and they will now aim for a bit of consistency.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been clinical this season, just as they have been dominant in this derby fixture over the years.
Overall, it should be an interesting contest for the neutrals.
Everton 1-2 Liverpool
