Goodison Park plays host to one of the most intriguing Merseyside derbies in recent memory, with just one point separating Everton from Liverpool. It’s anyone’s guess which side of Stanley Park will take the three points, so join The Roar from 11:30pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
There aren’t many tickets more sought after on the Premier League calendar than the Merseyside derby.
Traditionally, Liverpool have been the more fancied of the two sides, however on this occasion Everton stand as marginal favourites. The Blues outrank their crosstown rivals after seven rounds, sitting just one spot outside the Champions League qualification places with 12 points.
The Reds on the other hand find themselves in ninth, one point behind the Toffees.
Liverpool’s form this season has been patchy to say the least. A number of poor results has seen Brendan Rodgers’ fan support as manager compromised, and a tight, 3-2 victory over Aston Villa last weekend stands as a shining light in a run of poor form.
The fans will no doubt be much easier on the man in the hot seat if he can pull off a result here. Historically, form goes out the window in the Merseyside derby and Rodgers for one will hope that trend continues.
Everton are undefeated in their last four Premier League fixtures. Last week, an inspired comeback saw them best West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns – a good result considering they were two goals adrift after 55 minutes.
Striker Romelu Lukaku sparked the fightback against the Baggies and his manager Roberto Martinez will be hoping he carries this form into this important fixture.
In their past 10 meetings, the spoils were split on six occasions, while the Reds were victorious in three and the Blues just once. The last time the two sides met on the blue side of Stanley Park, a hard-fought nil-all draw was the result. F
ans and neutrals alike will be hoping for a livelier affair on this occasion.
In player news, Everton remain without defenders Tony Hibbert and Leighton Baines, as well as midfielders Tom Cleverley and Steven Pienaar through injury, while Kevin Mirallas remains suspended after seeing red against Swansea.
The Reds too have a fairly substantial injury ward, with Dejan Lovren, Jon Flanagan, Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Christian Benteke all out due to various ailments.
Prediction
Everton 1-1 Liverpool
Join The Roar from 11:30pm (AEDT) for coverage and participation in our live blog.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me for this Merseyside Derby, I hope you enjoyed my coverage. Its a huge night of football on The Roar tonight, be sure to stay tuned for the multitude of derbies on offer around the world this evening! Thanks again!
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
FULL TIME AT GOODISON PARK The spoils are split in the Merseyside Derby. A lively opening for Liverpool was to no avail as both sides produced good chances early on in the piece. Everton went close through Steven Naismith on two occasions but Simon Mignolet was up to the challenge, keeping the ball out of his net with a pair of saves each as good as any produced this season. However, it was Liverpool who broke the deadlock first in a frenetic end to the opening stanza as Danny Ings stamped his name on his Merseyside Derby debut with a header from a James Milner corner which opened the scoring for the afternoon. However, they didn’t lead for long as a short range volley from Romelu Lukaku took advantage of a scuffed clearance from Emre Can. Mignolet was rooted to the spot as the Belgian bulged the back of the net with just a single minute remaining in the half. The second half began with a tight affair and continued that way throughout its entirety. Heated encounters between individual players such as Can/Barkley and Lukaku/Sakho saw tensions heated throughout. Lucas Leiva was lucky to remain on the park following a cynical trip on Naismith after he had already been booked. Both sides tried their best to break the deadlock but neither was able to produce any real chances. A draw was the only fair result in a very even affair at Goodison Park. To recap, After 90 minutes its Everton ONE Liverpool ONE.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
13 goal attempts apiece this afternoon, the ledger is well and truly even between these great rivals. With 30 seconds on the clock here, surely its game over now. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
No more than 2 minutes left on the clock here, we are deep into stoppage time now. Will this match be settled right at the death? Or will we see the spoils split?
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
That scuffle has resulted in yellow cards to both parties. Similar to the Can/Barkley encounter earlier in the piece. YELLOW CARDS to Lukaku and Sakho. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
90' ITS ON AGAIN! Sakho is firing up once more! This time against Lukaku! Its the battle of the beasts in this intense encounter. Both men look ready to kill someone as Atkinson attempts to talk Lukaku down in the heat of batle. Tensions have been high all day with the Liverpool centre backs amongst it all day. Props to Martin Atkinson he's marshalled the match well. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Surely there's not long left here, <5 mins in fact. Can one of these sides pip the other at the post?
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
88' Everton looked to have opened it up for Lennon but he couldn't get the shot away as he was marshalled well by Sakho. Liverpool countered and headed forward quickly. Coutinho looked to have sent Sturridge through for a one on one with Howard but it was brilliantly intercepted at the last minute by Funes Mori! Liverpool fans were off their seats there! 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
87' Another lacklustre corner from Liverpool... By my calculations we've seen one good corner from either side all day! On that very corner, Liverpool opened their account! Really not good enough at this level. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
86' Liverpool playing a dangerous game here as they turn it over in their own half yet again. The Reds haven't been at all dominant today, something which will further worry fans who are discontent at their poor start to the season. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
85' Funes Mori saunters his way forward from centre back as Everton look to build from the back. Can the Toffees manufacture a late winner here? 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
84' Lallana and Barkley exchange words as the former gives away a freekick. He claimed the latter dived but the referee was having none of it. Although, replays confirm Barkley went down with a severe lack of contact... 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Its been a fairly underwhelming second half thus far and its just crying out for a moment of brilliance to win this game. Although, having said that, at the moment a draw would be a fitting result. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
We've entered the final 10 minutes here. Who will step up and write their name into Merseyside Derby history by snatching a winner?
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
80' A shaky pass back from Skrtel is well mopped up by Mignolet. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
Substitutions for both sides Arouna Kone replaces Steven Naismith. A bearded Joe Allen takes the place of Lucas Leiva (who was lucky to still be on the pitch). 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
78' A cynical trip from Lucas Leiva on Steven Naismith in midfield. He is begging to be sent off. He's already been cautioned and it would have taken some restraint from Atkinson not to send him back to the sheds on that one. Really lucky let off for Liverpool and Lucas Leiva. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
77' A decent ball flashed across the box from Moreno. He got around Browning on the left and looked to pick out the head of Milner but the header is misdirected and out for a goal kick. 1-1
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
75' Adam Lallana is being prepared by Rodgers on the sideline. He was the sole goal scorer in the Reds' draw at FC Sion in the Europa League in midweek, can he do it again? Ings is the main to make way as Lallana takes the pitch in a substitution for the Reds.
Jake Rosengarten
Roar Guru
72' Coutinho weaves in and out and finds himself some space on the edge of the box. He made his way inside Browning and released towards goal, its similar to Lennon's effort and stings the palms of Howard. Could have done better there the Brazilian. 1-1