Sunday brings around the 232nd Merseyside derby as Liverpool once again host Everton.
The red half of the city are looking to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League season and keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the table.
The blue half, meanwhile, have been steadily improving under Marco Silva and a long-awaited win at Anfield would be a real signal of intent from the Portuguese boss.
Read on for Liverpool v Everton live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Liverpool v Everton?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Anfield
Date: Sunday, 2 November
Kick-off: 4:15 PM GMT
Match preview
The Merseyside Derby doesn’t really need any explaining – it means a lot in that part of the world. Given Everton’s recent record in this fixture, you would normally say it means a little more to them than it does to Liverpool.
However, the Reds are in fine form in the Premier League and look to be mounting a serious challenge to Manchester City’s title. Pep Guardiola’s side play on Saturday, meaning Liverpool will already know whether they are trying to stay in touch or go top of the league when they face Everton on Sunday.
This adds a nice touch of spice to an already hot fixture which has produced more red cards than any other in Premier League history.
But don’t be fooled into thinking Liverpool’s title aspirations are the only thing at stake here as Everton have two very big aims for this game; to finally end their Anfield and Merseyside derby hoodoo, and sustain their challenge for a European place.
Expect fireworks as Liverpool look to suppress their rivals once again, while Marco Silva attempts to make a statement in his first Merseyside derby.
Where can I watch live?
The Merseyside derby will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports PL, channels 401 and 402 respectively for Sky TV customers and channels 511 and 512 respectively for Virgin Media customers.
Naby Keita’s time to shine at Liverpool?
After a promising start to life at Liverpool, Naby Keita’s form has dipped slightly in the past couple of months.
The Guinean international has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, considering the £54m that the Reds shelled out to gain his signature. That pressure seems to have weighed down on him recently, but Jurgen Klopp has backed the 23-year-old, stating that Keita’s form has simply been down to recovering from an injury.
Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: “Naby Keita will be – and he is – an outstanding player.
“The situation after he got injured was average because he has to get fit again, but the start was brilliant. He will be a massive player in the future for LFC and he is already.
“He is now really fit, he looks sharp in training, but as it is at a club like ours sometimes you have to wait a bit longer for the moment. And when you get the moment, then you have to be ready. That’s how it is. He is an outstanding player and we are happy to have him.”
Whether Keita will start the derby on not remains to be seen, but what better stage to shine on in a Liverpool shirt?
How can Everton finally break their Anfield hoodoo?
1999. That is the last time Everton won a game at Anfield, courtesy of a Kevin Campbell goal. Since that game, Everton have played 1,800 minutes of football at the home of their rivals and have led for a grand total of 63 minutes.
Yes, there has been some disparity in the quality of the two sides in that time, but that is still a sordid number for Everton fans to read and is one they are just unable to accept.
Marco Silva’s early reign over the Toffees has looked full of promise and if the likes of Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andre Gomes can continue their early form, the sky may well be the limit.
The more immediate focus, though, will be on Sunday afternoon. If Everton are to finally end that 19-year wait, and indeed an eight-year wait for a derby win of any sort, then those three will be key. Sigurdsson, who scored at Anfield in the FA Cup last season, and Richarlison look like a pair that can finally pose a viable goal threat to Liverpool, while Andre Gomes’ prowess on the ball means Everton should vastly improve on their 19% possession stat from this fixture last year.
Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman has expressed (via Sky Sports) how big the game is for the city, while insisting that Marco Silva will make no tactical exception for Jurgen Klopp’s side: “This is a massive game for our city and we’ve been on the receiving end too many times, and there’ll be a few tackles going in this weekend but we’re looking forward to playing our game.
“The manager sets up to try to win the game, no matter who we’ve played this season, and that’ll be no different I’m sure on Sunday.”
The Toffees’ faithful are going into this game with a very quiet confidence. A quiet confidence they hope to scream from the rooftops after the game is done.
Who would get into a combined XI on fitness and form?
Jordan Pickford is among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League but Liverpool’s Alisson has been a revolution since arriving at Anfield. The Brazilian’s calming influence has helped the Reds concede just five goals in 13 league games, the joint-best record in the Premier League.
For that reason, the entire back five has to be Liverpool, with an honourable mention for Lucas Digne, who has revitalised Everton’s left side, and Michael Keane, whose improvement has been most impressive this season.
Moving further forward, Idrissa Gueye has made more tackles (59) than any other player in the Premier League this season and is brilliant in one-on-one situations. His ability on the ball is sometimes called into question, but that has looked much less of an issue since Andre Gomes came into the side. The Barcelona loanee has been class personified for Everton and has them rotating possession at a much higher pace than with Tom Davies or Morgan Schneiderlin playing in his role.
James Milner has created three big chances in the Premier League for Liverpool this season, more than any of their midfielders, also making 22 tackles – only Andrew Robertson has made more in the league for the Reds so far.
Playing in behind the strikers, Gylfi Sigurdsson already has six goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, while his eight through balls is only bettered by Jorginho (10) and David Luiz (11) – the Icelandic playmaker has well and truly moved into full swing at Goodison Park this season.
Up front, Mohamed Salah has seven league goals for the Reds and continues to be their main attacking outlet after such a prolific first Anfield campaign last season. Meanwhile, Richarlison has taken to life at Everton like a house on fire, grabbing six goals so far and earning a call-up to the Brazilian national side, scoring three goals in six caps so far.
Head-to-head
As mentioned, Everton’s recent record in this fixture is terrible. Everton’s last Anfield win came in 1999, while the Toffees are 17 Merseyside derbies without a win in all competitions, dating back to October 2010, losing eight and drawing nine.
Liverpool have managed 31 goals during those 17 games and have scored two goals or more in four of their last six Anfield games against Everton.
Liverpool wins: 92 Draws: 73 Everton wins: 66
Team news
Liverpool will be without captain Jordan Henderson, who has a one-match suspension following his sending off against Watford last weekend.
Adam Lallana returned to training on Thursday and could take his place on the bench, while squad players Divock Origi, Dominic Solanke and Nathaniel Clyne will all be monitored ahead of Sunday afternoon.
Everton’s squad are in great shape, with no new injury concerns for Marco Silva. James McCarthy is back in training but is unlikely to feature, with Everton having an otherwise full-strength squad to pick from.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner; Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, Sadio Mane; Roberto Firmino.
Predicted Everton XI: Jordan Pickford; Seamus Coleman, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne; Andre Gomes, Idrissa Gana Gueye; Ademola Lookman, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bernard; Richarlison.
Squawka prediction
Providing Marco Silva doesn’t bow to the air of optimism among Evertonians and overextend himself, which he surely won’t, this should be a very tight derby.
It should also be much more entertaining than the turgid affair forced by the defensive tactics of Sam Allardyce last season, with both sides possessing potent attacking threats.
The fact that it is a derby should throw all form out of the window, meaning that these two will be very hard to split.2-2.
Predictions and betting tips
1. Draw and both teams to score @ 4/1
Everton may be without an Anfield win since 1999, but they have picked up 10 draws there during that time and have a considerably better squad this season than when they came here under Sam Allardyce last term.
Liverpool’s Champions League exertions in Paris during the week is bound to have sapped some energy out of them as well, with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe giving the Reds’ defence the runaround on the counter-attack.
This levels the playing field even more and gives Everton a real chance of taking a positive result back across Stanley Park.
Key stat: Eight of the last 13 Merseyside derbies have ended in a draw.
Tip: Liverpool v Everton to end as a score draw @ 4/1 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (30/11/2018, 16:50)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Over 2.5 goals @ 5/8
Mohamed Salah (seven), Gylfi Sigurdsson (six), Richarlison (six) and Sadio Mane (six) alone have 25 Premier League goals between them this season and are among the division’s top marksmen.
Everton are looking like a genuine threat on the break this season and if Roberto Firmino can recapture his form in front of goal for the Reds, that should all make for a potent goalscoring mix.
Key stat: Liverpool have scored 31 goals in their last 17 games against Everton.
Tip: Liverpool v Everton to have more than 2.5 goals – YES @ 5/8 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (30/11/2018, 16:50)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. Red card to be shown – YES @ 5/2
Steven Gerrard, Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville, Tim Cahill and Sotirios Kyrgiakos. What do all of these players have in common? They have all been sent off at least once in a Merseyside derby.
Indeed, this fiery fixture has seen more red cards (21) than any other game in Premier League history and with Marco Silva’s developing side looking to make an impression on their neighbours, you can expect some meaty challenges again on Sunday.
Key stat: The Merseyside derby has had more red cards (21) than any other Premier League fixture.
Tip: At least one red card to be shown – YES @ 5/2 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (30/11/2018, 16:50)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
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