In the last few weeks, Liverpool have looked more and more like the team that came so close to winning the Premier League last season. Meanwhile, Everton have looked less and less like a team that finished in the top five only a few months ago. However, the form book will be thrown out the window as these old city rivals do battle once more in the Merseyside derby.
Anfield has been an unhappy hunting ground for the Toffees in the 21st century. Will the red half of Merseyside be celebrating again this weekend? Read on as we preview this massive derby game.
Liverpool-Everton isn’t the only big derby date this weekend as the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham also kicks into high gear. Check out our preview of that big game here.
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Liverpool vs. Everton Betting Preview
Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England
When: Saturday, February 7, 12:30 PM ET
Line: Everton +225 at Liverpool +105, tie +222; total 2.5 – view all EPL lines
What’s at Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]With any hope of winning the title long gone for Liverpool, a derby win would be a decent consolation. The Reds are currently seventh and have a chance to jump into the top-five with a win over their bitter rivals. Meanwhile, Everton needs a win to salvage what has been a very disappointing campaign thus far.
Speaking of stakes, local police have lost their appeal to have the late start time for this game moved to earlier around concerns for public safety denied. So, safety is at stake! Safety!
Betting on Liverpool
Liverpool continued their fine run of form over the month or so with a very impressive 2-0 home win over West Ham. The Reds have gone unbeaten in their last seven league fixtures (6-0-1) which has shot them up to seventh in the table. They also gave Chelsea all they could handle over their two-legged Carling Cup semifinal.
Star striker Daniel Sturridge marked his return from a five-month injury layoff by scoring the second and decisive goal as a substitute against West Ham. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has stated that Sturridge will remain on the bench while he regains full fitness. Sturridge should give the Reds a dangerous weapon in the waning hours of the match.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling capped off another strong outing against West Ham with his fifth league goal. Sterling will be the primary threat to torment an Everton defense that has given up 34 goals this season, the fourth-worst defensive record in the league.
Liverpool’s own defense has experienced a renaissance in past weeks. They kept their third consecutive clean sheet against West Ham after failing to string together back-to-back shutouts in the first five months of the season.
Liverpool have an immaculate home record in local derbies. The red half of Merseyside hasn’t lost at Anfield since the turn of the century. The Reds have seven wins and eight draws against Everton in 15 previous home meetings.
Betting on Everton
Everton finally registered their first win in well over a month as they edged past a Crystal Palace team that had won three games in a row, 1-0, on the road. The Toffees had lost three and drawn three in their previous six league games, although one of those draws was against defending champions Manchester City.
Romelu Lukaku scored the decisive goal for Everton, his seventh in an otherwise disappointing season. The Belgian has shown life in recent games, though. He scored in both FA Cup meetings against West Ham after going six straight games without a goal. Lukaku’s return to form will be a very welcome sight for an Everton attack that has scored just four times in their last seven league games.
Everton’s defense has also shown slight improvement after recording back-to-back clean sheets for the first time all year. They haven’t been particularly pretty to watch, but they’ve played with the aggression and scrappiness that has earned them results.
Expect the Toffees to try and muck up a resurgent Liverpool team in their attempt to play more expansive football. The midfield duo of Gareth Barry and Muhamed Besic has been excellent in shielding the back four, and will be crucial in preventing Liverpool from dominating the game from the midfield area.
Writer’s Prediction
Liverpool comes away with a close 1-0 win. Create a betting account now and take part in all the best soccer rivalries England has to offer.
