For the first time this decade, we may be about to see a change in fate in one of England’s most ferocious fixtures, the Merseyside derby.
After the international break Jurgen Klopp’s men have had time to lick their wounds and recuperate after the 7-2 drumming they received at the hands of Aston Villa, in time for a much-anticipated inner city clash with Everton this Saturday.
The defeat was their heaviest since Klopp took charge, and stunned the Premier League on a day where Manchester United were also thrashed 6-1 by Spurs.
The Liverpool manager himself blamed his team for “massive mistakes” and believed it was just a freak result, he said: “What should I be now? Completely outraged or something like that? Is it only a one-off? I would think so, I would like to think so, but that I cannot prove tonight. If people want to hear it, I can say it: that’s a one-off”.
Klopp’s reds have been under the microscope since the Premiership season kicked off. They were runaway champions last season, and many expected Liverpool to once again claim with the title with relative ease. The 7-2 defeat to Villa however will have no doubt awoken the rest of the league, instead of viewing them with starry eyed jealously, teams must believe they can now challenge the one of the strongest teams in the world. Liverpool are perhaps not as invincible as they may have seemed last season. Their calamitous defensive display in the Villa game will be analysed no more so than their old rivals Everton, with Ancelotti’s men brewing with confidence and brandishing a take no prisoners attitude so far this season for the first time in years.
We must remember however that we’re only four games into the season, and Liverpool sit just three points off Everton, but an unconvincing 4-3 win against Leeds and the shock defeat to Villa, holes in their game are starting to get noticed.
Everton, their talisman striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and breath of fresh air James Rodríguez have so far been in tantalising form. The forward sits joint top of scoring charts with six goals this season in the Premier League, and also bagged his first goal for England during this international break, in a 3-0 win against Wales.
It all comes down to the manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who surprised the footballing world when he arrived at Goodison. Ancelotti has revitalised Everton since taking charge, and it seems the patience and trust in him is finally paying off. No-one really doubted the three-time Champions League winner who is also one of the most revered and decorated managers in modern football. Jurgen Klopp himself spoke of his adoration for the Italian, he said: “What I thought about Carlo Ancelotti was never a secret. When I heard he was going to sign for Everton I thought ‘Ah, the next proper challenge in line’”.
The two Merseyside clubs dominated English football in the 1980’s, with the 1984 Football League Cup final being dubbed “The Friendly Final” due to the solidarity shown between supporters and family orientated atmosphere. Since the mid 80’s though, a ferocious rivalry has endured.
Liverpool are undefeated in the Merseyside derby since 2011, and since then some classic moments have denied The Toffee’s a chance at redemption. Blunders and last-minute goals conceded by Everton have certainly been their undoing, and Liverpool fans have made no effort to conceal their jubilation at the expense of their city rivals.
Speaking ahead of the derby, Ancelotti said: “We’re going there in good form, and it will be an important test against one of the strongest teams in the world. The 7-2 against Aston Villa doesn’t matter: days like that can happen in the Premier League.”
Kick-off is at 12:30pm tomorrow, with all eyes on this fixture. Two great managers, managing two teams with a long and passionate history, a must see.
