The 232nd league meeting between Everton and Liverpool takes place tomorrow at Anfield so can the Toffees finally end their barren run in derby games?
October 2010 was the last time Everton won a Merseyside derby when David Moyes’ team won at Goodison Park through goals from the legendary Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta.
I was at that game and I didn’t think at that time it would be eight years and counting without another league derby win over the old enemy!
And of course as every Everton fan probably knows it’s been 19 years since the Blues won a game at Anfield.
So can Everton change that terrible run tomorrow?
On the basis of league position and recent record the answer is no. But as the old saying goes a local derby is, (or should be), a great leveller.
Liverpool for their part are having a very solid but not as spectacular a season as last term.
They are coming into the derby game after a damaging Champions League defeat in Paris on Wednesday, although I doubt that will make any big difference tomorrow.
However they are still just a few points behind Manchester City in the Premier League and defensively they have improved significantly from last season.
And there are worrying signs that Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firminio, who were both so good last term are beginning to rediscover their best form. The other forward, Sadio Mane, has been very good for most of this campaign.
Salah and Firminio produced something close to their best against Watford last Saturday and both scored goals in the Reds 3-0 win.
So if those three click on Sunday, Everton could be in for a very long and difficult afternoon.
For their part the Blues produced one of their poorest performances in recent games last weekend as they struggled to find a way through a determined Cardiff City at Goodison.
Although the Toffees eventually did get a goal and win the match it was not a very impressive effort. Let’s hope that was just a blip in form and Everton can return to their best for the game tomorrow.
In truth other than defending balls in the air, Liverpool seem to have few weaknesses and have not lost at home in 27 matches.
However for perhaps the first time in a while Everton do have the pace and quality in attack to trouble their neighbours defence. But there does seem to be a psychological barrier to beating Liverpool. hopefully with so many new faces in the dressing room that will be less of a factor.
But Toffees’ manager Marco Silva has a quandary; does he set out to try to win or opt to keep it tight, defend well and then hope to nick a goal or two.
Everton did just that a few weeks ago at Chelsea and came away with a point after a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
Overall the Blues under Silva have been a more offensive-minded team and have reaped the rewards for that adventurous approach.
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But he showed a willingness to alter his tactics. And it probably makes sense to be realistic and recognise that if the Blues can frustrate Liverpool early on and seek to hit them on the counter-attack, that could be the best strategy for success. Going out all guns blazing will probably backfire on Everton.
Whatever tactics Everton adopt they will have to defend exceptionally well and take any chances that come their way.
In all likelihood it’s going to take the best performance of the season for the Blues to win this game. So while we can hope for such an outcome, a point tomorrow would I think still be a decent result. COYB!!