Another Merseyside derby, another buzzing day in the streets of the city of The Beatles. Everton and Liverpool face off at Goodison Park and the rivals welcome the match in very different moods.Last weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s side eased to a 4-0 victory at home to Southampton while the Toffees went down 1-0 to Brentford.Bright start to the new campaign gave hope to the fans of Liverpool Blues and to their new manager Rafael Benitez but an alarming decline has seen the Toffees’ strong opening go to waste. Everton are winless in the top flight since sinking Norwich City back in September and the squad suffered five defeats from their last six Premier League matches – they are now just six points above the relegation zone.Two sides of fortune for two Uniteds – unlucky Newcastle, lucky LeedsBenitez’s reunion with the Reds is looking certain to be a forgettable occasion and Everton misfiring lately is music to the ears of Klopp’s in-form outlet.“With Newcastle, Chelsea – even with Valencia in the past – I’ve played against Liverpool. Now it’s Everton and this time it is different,” the Spaniard said.“It will be an opportunity for us to change things. It’s a massive game for us.“We have a bad time now and we need to start winning but the derby is always an opportunity to put things right.German manager of the Liverpool Reds will need no reminding of the importance of points over the Christmas period before his ranks are depleted during the Africa Cup of Nations. The tight Premier League trophy race against Chelsea and Manchester City should be motivational enough – alongside with the local bragging rights – to push Liverpool towards victory.Could Rafa turn the tide on Merseyside?🤔Rafael Benitez will become the 1st manager since 1894 take charge of both Everton & Liverpool in a Merseyside Derby!But his Everton side are now 7 games WITHOUT a victory! 👀#EVELIV pic.twitter.com/TZvuL4qneW— The Football Pools (@footballpools) December 1, 2021 Last season 2-2 draw was best remembered for Van Dijk’s devastating injury – the Dutch defender spent months off pitch after he collided with Everton and England first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.Everton will welcome Richarlison back from suspension while Calvert-Lewin ought to return at some point before Christmas. Yerry Mina, Tom Davies and Andre Gomes are all set to miss out as well.Liverpool’s injured quintet of Naby Keita, Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott, Roberto Firmino and Curtis Jones are still sidelined. Luckily for Klopp, he has no fresh concerns from the Southampton match.Klopp has revealed that the Merseyside derby isn’t his ‘favourite game of the year’.”It’s always a completely different game, so I really very often don’t like the intensity of the game, it’s too much for me,” he told Sky Sports.”I like physical football, I have no problem with that, we play that, other teams play that, but in that game very often people put too much in.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##Thiago Alcantara should be fit enough for another start while James Milner’s experience could prove vital in Wednesday’s clash.Form goes out of the window when it comes to such an intense derby, reads the old saying. Perhaps that is where Everton could look for their chance. After all – in that previous 2-2 match, Toffees were trailing two-nil and managed to bounce back.Toffees’ last season triumph at Anfield was their first since 1999, while on home soil Everton haven’t beaten the Reds since 2010.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 14TuesdayNewcastle – Norwich 1-1 (0-0)/Wilson 61 pen – Pukki 79/Leeds – Crystal Palace 1-0 (0-0)/Raphina 90+3 pen/Wednesday22:30: (10.0) Watford (4.90) Chelsea (1.38)22:30: (1.90) Wolverhampton (3.50) Burnley (4.70)22:30: (1.95) West Ham (3.50) Brighton (4.40)22:30: (2.60) Southampton (3.35) Leicester (2.90)23:15: (8.50) Everton (4.70) Liverpool (1.43)23:15: (9.00) Aston Villa (4.90) Man.City (1.40)Thursday22:30: (1.65) Tottenham (3.80) Brentford (6.25)23:15: (2.10) Man.Utd. (3.50) Arsenal (3.80)
