Home News Everton v Liverpool Saturday 7th February Kick off 5:30pm

Everton v Liverpool Saturday 7th February Kick off 5:30pm

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While trying to avoid the usual clichés about ‘form going out of the window in a derby match’ and ‘the winner will be the side that copes best with their nerves’ Everton fans will be hoping that they will be able to make the most of ‘form going out of the window in a derby match’ and they are celebrating three points at the end of the game. Even though Everton have made some improvements recently when compared to their form at the start of the season, they would still have to be classed as the ‘under-dog’ going into this match.

Everton, and their fans especially, will be hoping that James McCarthy will be fit to make his return to the side for the derby. Time for another cliché here, ‘although one man does not make a team’ the absence of McCarthy has had a big impact on Everton this season, so if he makes a return in the derby and Everton can come away with a positive result they will have hopes of having an improved end to their season. Should McCarthy be fit enough to return for the derby match, the possibility of him pairing in the centre of the field with Besic is an appealing prospect for Everton fans. Should McCarthy and Besic team up in the midfield for Everton, or would that be too big a risk with McCarthy possibly just returning from a long absence and instead Gareth Barry retains his place instead of McCarthy or Besic? If I was picking the team, and McCarthy is fully fit, I would have McCarthy and Besic together and keep Barry back for later in the game when Everton are hoping to close out the game for a victory.

Liverpool, while not quite in the same situation as Everton, have also experienced a slightly disappointing season up to now when compared to last season. The derby on Saturday will be the last for Steven Gerrard and so there will be an added incentive for Liverpool to send their captain away from his final derby with something to remember. Gerrard always seems to rise to the occasion during derby matches, and it would be no surprise to see his name featured amongst the scorers, although Everton fans will be hoping that any goal from Gerrard will have been in vain as Everton walk away with the victory and three points.

Match prediction

A prediction for a derby match is much the same as trying to pick a lottery win, lots of luck and thought are needed and quite often the result is nothing like you predicted at the start. Although it may sound like a bit of an easy way out, I am going to have to predict a 1-1 draw here, I think that the need for either side to make sure that they don’t get beat in the match will lead to them both being a little wary of attacking too much and leaving the chance of a goal for the opposition.

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