Everton vs Liverpool: How can the Toffees win the Merseyside Derby?
Anfield is a name that tends to strike fear and loathing into the hearts of Evertonians. It’s more than 20 years (1999) since Everton has won there. On Saturday, Everton can walk out of their old home with their heads held high and three points in their pockets.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have already proven they are able to win at tough places as wins at Tottenham, Leeds and Leicester prove. The Toffees scored five goals in those three matches and three of them came from set-pieces.
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Jurgen Klopp’s men like to have the ball. Retaining possession is key in Klopp’s system and the Reds are fairly good at that. Even in recent losses to Leicester City(62%), Manchester City(56%), Brighton and Hove Albion(64%), Liverpool have enjoyed a lion’s share of possession. While it is ideal to dominate the possession against the Seagulls, to win the possession battle against a ball hungry Pep Guardiola’s side is quite an indication.
Similar to the Manchester City tie, Everton may not have the ball for major parts of the game against the Reds and would have to rely on more than one way to score.
Everton need to take advantage of dead ball situations
Not counting penalties, Everton have scored 11 times from dead-ball situations. With injuries to their central defenders, the Reds have had issues dealing with corners and set pieces. Last season, they allowed seven goals, so far this season it’s six.
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Lucas Digne, James Rodriguez and Gylfi Sigurdsson give Everton the ability to put telling crosses from set pieces into the box.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin‘s thumping header via a Digne free-kick against Spurs in the season opener seemed to lay down a marker. DCL has learned at the feet or more likely the forehead of Duncan Ferguson to be a terror in the air.
However, the England striker isn’t the only target. Richarlison and Micheal Keane are also threats. Sadly, the Toffees will be without Yerry Mina, whose 6-foot-4 frame creates problems for opposition defenders.
And while the Toffees haven’t won at Anfield since a number of Blues were toddlers. They have drawn 10 times, meaning another Everton goal would have changed the result.
Perhaps the most telling fact is Liverpool’s home form as they have lost their last three on the trot. The Royal Blues haven’t lost on the road in their last seven, winning five times. Ancelotti senses time may well be on Everton’s side.
"Every derby you play for Everton against Liverpool, you want to win, of course. It is a long time that Everton was able to win a derby and it can be the right time tomorrow. It could be the right time, but it depends on what we are able to do on the pitch tomorrow, only this.I don’t think we feel pressure (of not winning against Liverpool for so long). I think we are better (now) compared to the past, so I think we can have more opportunity to get a result. (via Yahoo Sports)"
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And three points for Everton on Saturday would pull them equal with Liverpool and keep them in the race for the Champions League.