Tactical Breakdown: Can Everton have an Oscar-worthy performance in Mission Impossible?

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp (r) react during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James Park on October 1, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 01: Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp (r) react during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James Park on October 1, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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Everton
Everton (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Everton welcome Liverpool at Goodison Park

As the Merseyside Derby approaches, Everton fans will be watching from behind their sofas expecting the worst as they face Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp’s side have been on fire, currently sat third in the Premier League with eight wins, four draws and only a single loss to David Moyes’ high-flying West Ham side.

The main reason Everton fans are worrying so much is the dreadful run of form that the Toffees are on right now, picking up only two points out of a possible 21, with their last win being against Norwich in September.

Rafa Benitez‘s side has struggled to get into games ever since that Norwich win, with their performances against Manchester United and Brentford being the only games where Everton looked to put up even a tiny bit of a fight.

Liverpool are the most dangerous attacking unit in the Premier League, being the highest scorers with 39, with only one of those goals being a penalty. The reds have scored four or more goals four times in only 13 appearances, and they’ve scored three or more goals eight times, with their front three swimming in goals.

Salah currently has the most goals and assists in the Premier League, with 11 goals and eight assists, proving himself as arguably the best footballer on the planet right now, leading the most dangerous attacking outfit in the world right now with unstoppable performance after unstoppable performance.

Salah’s non-penalty goals are currently in the top 1% of all wingers in the world, showing that the Egyptian is really in a class of his own right now, but he is not a creator and is an exception in Klopp’s gegenpressing football system, not applying much pressure, but instead, Salah leads the line, being in the top 1% for progressive passes received.

Salah is essentially Liverpool’s striker, playing in the half-spaces and occupying more central spaces than you’d expect for a winger, with Roberto Firmino usually being the one tasked with dropping deep and linking the play between midfield and attack.