This weekend sees two big derbies taking place. West Ham face Chelsea in another London derby, but at Anfield, we will also see the Merseyside derby take place; Liverpool v Everton.
These two massive rivals have played almost 300 games between them and both have had contrasting starts to the Premier League season so far.
Liverpool lie just three points behind leaders Arsenal and Tottenham in fourth spot in the table, a point behind their great rivals Manchester City.
Everton have won two of their last three to move them out of the drop zone and into 16th place in the table, three points clear of Luton and Burnley below them in the table.
When the two clash, it is always a huge game and it always attracts punters into a bet on many different aspects of what can be a hot-headed and controversial game at times.
You can pick from a huge selection of pre-match bets at bet365 Sport for Saturday lunchtime’s big game. Don’t forget too that there will be lots of In Play betting available on the game too once the action kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday.
Let’s now take a look at the long history of this fixture in English football.
Liverpool v Everton – A Brief History
It seems strange to think that there was a time there was only one team in Liverpool, who played at Anfield, but it was Everton! A dispute with the stadium owners saw Everton leave Anfield and move to nearby Goodison Park.
From the ashes of that move, Liverpool FC was created to have a team to utilise the stadium. From then on, the rivalry between the two teams has been fierce.
The first game saw Everton run out comfortable 3-0 winners in October 1894 and since then, the Merseyside derby has been one of the prestige games in English football.
Liverpool are the most successful team in English football history with 68 major trophy wins. Everton lie 8th in that table with 24 major trophies, although their most recent trophy was a 1995 FA Cup win over Manchester United.
Only Arsenal (13), Liverpool (19) and Manchester United (20) have won more than Everton’s nine League titles, the same number as Manchester City.
Liverpool v Everton – Head To Head
- Matches Played – 293
- Liverpool Wins – 124
- Everton Wins – 83
- Draws – 86
Liverpool v Everton Trends
- There has never been a Merseyside derby held with both teams out of the top division in English football.
- Everton have won just one of the last 28 Merseyside Derby games between the two teams. That being a 2-0 win over Liverpool, at Anfield, back in February 2021.
- 13 of those 28 games have finished as a draw, with Liverpool winning the remaining 14.
- The Reds have won three of the last four between the two teams, drawing the other and they have conceded just one goal in that time.
- Everton’s biggest win over Liverpool came at Anfield, a 5-0 win back in October 1914. Liverpool’s biggest home win over Everton was a 6-0 win back in September 1935.
- The highest scoring Merseyside derby was in February 1933, when Liverpool beat Everton 7-4 at Anfield.
- The teams have met in 2 FA Cup Finals and one League Cup Final, Liverpool winning all three of these fixtures.
- In the early years of the Premier League, Everton dominated as the first 15 games with the two teams in the EPL saw Everton win six, draw six, with Liverpool winning just three.
Liverpool v Everton – Memorable Matches
- Feb 2021 – Liverpool 0-2 Everton
Carlo Ancelotti guides Everton to their first win at Anfield in over 22 years thanks to goals from Richarlison and Sigurdsson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq_-p3U_Oz8
- Feb 1991 – Everton 4-4 Liverpool
An enthralling FA Cup replay saw Everton twice score late equalisers, one in normal time, one in extra time, to take the game to a third replay, which Everton won 1-0. This game is famous not just for the extraordinary scoreline but for it being the game which saw Kenny Dalglish step down as Liverpool manager.
- May 1989 – Liverpool 3-2 Everton
A second Wembley FA Cup Final saw Liverpool triumph in extra time. John Aldridge gave Liverpool an early lead but Stuart McCall’s late equaliser forced extra time. Ian Rush came off the bench to give Liverpool the lead in extra time, only for McCall to equalise once again, but a second Rush goal proved enough to give the Reds the cup.
- May 1986 – Liverpool 3-1 Everton
The first FA Cup Final between the two saw Everton take a first half lead through Gary Lineker, however Liverpool came back strongly in the second half and a brace of goals for Ian Rush, plus another for Craig Johnstone handed the Reds the win and with it their first and so far only Double winning campaign.
- March 1984 – Everton 0-0 Liverpool, Replay – Everton 0-1 Liverpool
The first ever Merseyside Cup Final saw the two teams clash at Wembley, fighting out a 0-0 draw and forcing a replay at Maine Road in Manchester where Graeme Souness’ first half strike secure the first of what would be a trio of trophies for Liverpool that season.
Liverpool v Everton – Played For Both Teams
Despite being fierce rivals, there are a significant number of players that played for both teams over the course of their careers and they include:
- David Johnson (AC)
- Kevin Sheedy (ML)
- Peter Beardsley (AC)
- Gary Ablett (DLC)
- Don Hutchison (AMC)
- David Burrows (DL)
- Conor Coady (DC)
- Dave Hickson (AC)
- Johnny Morrissey (AMR)
- Steve McMahon (MC)
- Nick Barmby (AMRC)
- Abel Xavier (DRC)
- Sander Westerveld (G)
Liverpool v Everton – Current Form & Team News
- Liverpool – 4th in the EPL, 17pts from 8 games (+9)
- Everton – 16th in the EPL, 7 points from 8 games (-3)
EPL Form
- Liverpool – DLWWWWWD
- Everton – WLWLDLLL
Top Goalscorer & Assists
- Liverpool – Mo Salah (5 goals), Mo Salah (4 assists)
- Everton – Abdoulaye Doucoure (3 goals), Several Players (1 assist)
Current Squads
Liverpool
Goalkeepers
- Alisson Becker
- Adrian
- Caoimhin Kelleher
- Marcelo Pitaluga
Defenders
- Joe Gomez (DLRC)
- Virgil van Dijk (DC)
- Ibrahima Konate (DC)
- Kostas Tsimikas (DL)
- Andy Robertson (DL)
- Joel Matip (DC)
- Trent Alexander Arnold (DMRC)
- Luke Chambers (DL)
- Jarell Quansah (DC)
- Conor Bradley (DR)
Midfielders
- Stefan Bajcetic (DMC)
- Thiago (MC)
- Curtis Jones (AMC)
- Harvey Elliott (MLC)
- Bobby Clark (MC)
- Alexis Mac Allister (MC)
- Dominic Szoboszlai (MC)
- Wataru Endo (DMC)
- Ryan Gravenberch (MC)
Attackers
- Mohamed Salah (AMRC)
- Cody Gakpo (AMC)
- Diogo Jota (AC)
- Luis Diaz (AMLC)
- Darwin Nunez (AC)
- Ben Doak (AMR)
Manager
Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool will be without Andy Robertson for the game due to a shoulder injury sustained playing for Scotland. Thiago will also likely be absent for the game.
The Reds will also be without suspended duo Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota.
Liverpool Probable Starting XI
Liverpool – 4-3-3
- GK – Alisson
- DR – Alexander-Arnold
- DL – Tsimikas
- DC – Van Dijk
- DC – Konate
- DMC – Mac Allister
- MC – Elliott
- AMC – Szoboszlai
- AMR – Salah
- AC – Nunez
- AML – Diaz
Everton
Goalkeepers
- Jordan Pickford
- Andy Lonergan
- Joao Virginia
- Billy Crellin
Defenders
- James Tarkowski (DC)
- Nathan Patterson (DR)
- Michael Keane (DC)
- Vitali Mykolenko (DLR)
- Ben Godfrey (DLRC)
- Seamus Coleman (DL)
- Jarrad Branthwaite (DC)
- Ashley Young (DL)
Midfielders
- Amadou Onana (MC)
- Abdoulaye Doucoure (MC)
- Idrissa Gueye (MC)
- James Garner (MLRC)
- Dele Alli (AMC)
- Andre Gomes (MC)
- Jack Harrison (MLR)
- Tyler Onyango (DMC)
- Mackenzie Hunt (MC)
Attackers
- Dwight McNeil (AMR)
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin (AC)
- Lewis Dobbin (AC)
- Arnaut Danjuma (AML)
- Youssef Chermiti (AC)
- Beto (AC)
Manager
Sean Dyche
Everton Team News
Everton will be missing three players for the game with Liverpool, Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli and Andre Gomes who have knee, groin and calf injuries respectively.
Everton Probable Starting XI
Everton – 4-4-1-1
- GK – Pickford
- DR – Young
- DL – Mykolenko
- DC – Tarkowski
- DC – Branthwaite
- MR – Harrison
- ML – McNeil
- MC – Onana
- MC – Garner
- AMC – Doucoure
- AC – Calvert-Lewin
Current Betting Odds with Bet365 for Liverpool v Everton
- Liverpool to win – 3/10
- Draw – 9/2
- Everton to win – 8/1
As you can see, bet365 Sport has Liverpool as the clear favourites to win the game. The Reds are unbeaten at Anfield this season and it I hard to argue with the odds given by bet365 here.
However, I feel there are better options available for punters seeking greater value.
I’ve gone for Luis Diaz as an each way first goalscorer bet at odds of 11/2, which would see a return of £93.30 for a £10 each way bet, if Diaz scores first in the game.
The game kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday lunchtime and will be shown live.