Tonight, marks the 234th Merseyside derby, in what is expected to be the most one sided match ever between the two.
Liverpool, sitting comfortably at the top of the league, unbeaten in 31 games, cushioned by an 8 point and tonight’s game in hand, are simply glowing under Jurgen Klopp.
Everton, stray 26 points behind their biggest rivals in 17th place, with Marco Silva facing the boot, the fans in total dismay, and the threat of relegation actually becoming a daunting reality, tonight’s game is key for the blues and also Silva’s livelihood.
The gap between the clubs has arguably never been greater, Jurgen Klopp won his first champions league last May after falling just short of the league title with a record-breaking tally. He had seven of his men up for the ballon d’or this year, Virgil Van Dijk taking second and Sadio Mane getting fourth.
Everton on the other hand, have had nothing to shout about, unless you count a 5-1 win last season against Burnley, and a promising debut season from new signing Richarlison. They haven’t won at Anfield since 27 September 1999, a 1-0 win courtesy of a Kevin Campbell goal. Their last win against Liverpool home or away, came on 17 October 2010, where Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill secured a 2-0 win.
Jurgen Klopp’s charisma, charm and savviness with a chequebook, has catapulted Liverpool into becoming proven world beaters. The additions of Andy Robertson, Van Dijk, Fabinho and Allison have seemingly solved their defensiveness issue. Everton on the other-hand have suffered time and time again from poor management and have slowly become a parody of their former selves.
Liverpool are unbeaten at Anfield since March 2017. With one away win in their last 10 games, against a Southampton squad that just don’t want to know this season, everyone seems to be lining Everton and Marco Silva up for an execution tonight.
Despite the rest of the league’s predictions that Everton may actually be the first football club to suffer a rugby score-line tonight, do not think for one moment their fans will. Their fans are as ruthlessly passionate and their hatred for the reds has never burned brighter, perhaps through jealously. Tonight, they may not expect a win, but by god will they expect a battle. If Marco Silva does not provide that, then he will certainly be a very lonely man on Merseyside.
Liverpool should not get complacent however, with everyone writing Everton off already it gives them absolutely nothing to lose. The last few meetings between the two have been certainly memorable. Sadio Mane’s last minute goal in 2016? bad luck blues. Origi’s last minute goal last year, from Pickford spilling a ball onto the bar? farcical and downright cruel.
The ‘Friendly Derby’ is a fixture with more red cards than any other. I would not be surprised if either side add too that tally tonight, out of frustration or sheer hot-headedness.
8:15pm tonight, the first Merseyside derby of the season will get under way, with the two sides also drawing each other in the FA cup, this first battle will prove vital. It’s Liverpool’s game to lose, but with the teams history, it could also be Everton’s to win.
