Tuesday morning sees another explosive Merseyside derby taking place at Goodison Park. Having seen the most red cards produced out of any match up in the Premier League, controversy is never far away when the two sides meet.
While both Everton and Liverpool are clubs steeped in rich football history, relatively lean years of late have ensured bragging rights between the two clubs is ultimately afforded to the winner. However there’s ultimately much more at stake this time around, and Tuesday morning’s game shapes to be the most important derby of the past few years.
While Liverpool have had no shortage of quality in recent years, inconsistency has left them still searching for their maiden Premier League title. Certainly the 2013-2014 season captured that trend most dramatically, with the Reds seemingly storming home to win the title, only to fall to a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, and surrender a 3-0 lead at Crystal Palace that ended their closest title challenge of the Premier League era.
Star-man Luis Suarez departed for Barcelona, and the Reds haven’t returned to those heights since.
While Jurgen Klopp has returned them to a title-challenging outfit, Phillipe Coutinho’s ankle injury against Sunderland stunted their momentum. They’ve drawn and lost one each of their three fixtures since, and while still in second place, they cannot afford to drop any points if they are to mount a genuine challenge for the title.
With Chelsea securing their 11th straight win on Saturday at Crystal Palace, Liverpool need a win if they wish to stay within touching distance of the league’s leaders.
Having finished in the bottom half of the table for the past two seasons, Roberto Martinez was shown the door at Everton. Ronald Koeman’s appointment brought a renewed optimism to Goodison Park, with four wins from their opening five fixtures.
A disappointing lean spell since, which included only one win in six games, left the club with a familiar feeling to the end of the Martinez era. Everton fans will accept being outplayed, but won’t accept a lack of effort from the players, a theme that had become all too common since David Moyes left for Old Trafford.
A much needed win injection of positivity came last weekend with a come from behind win against a quality Arsenal side under lights at Goodison, showing fight that renewed confidence in both the squad and manager.
Arsenal weren’t impressive by any measure, however it’s a platform to build from, in a period that could define their season.
Koeman will be desperate to ensure his first campaign in charge becomes more than just a mediocre ‘rebuilding season’. To launch his side into the new year with momentum, Koeman will need to find a derby victory that have been extremely rare of late.
In the past 11 league fixtures against Liverpool, Everton have not a single win to show. Three of the past five have seen the spoils shared, however the other two have seen Liverpool wipe the blues off the park with four goals to none.
The latter of those results came in the most recent meeting, when Martinez took a wounded side across to Anfield a week out from an FA Cup semi-final. With the league campaign gone, and his managerial position on the line, Martinez’s side were mercilessly flogged, conceding 37 shots on target with only ten men for majority of the second half.
For Liverpool, Daniel Sturridge is expected to return while Everton captain Phil Jagielka will sit out after a red card against Arsenal earned him a one match ban. Adding a bit of spice to the match will be Jagielka’s replacement in defence, Ramiro Funes Mori, who was red carded in the last derby for a horrific stamp on Divock Origi.
Funes Mori beat his Everton crest on the way off, however it was seemingly dismissed by fans given it was his first season for the club and Martinez publicly criticised him for the challenge. It will be interesting to see what attention he receives from those in red tomorrow, expect him to play the villain role.
As Klopp and Koeman go head to head for the first time as Merseyside managers, Liverpool will look to prove their title credentials, while Everton need a win to stay in touch with the pack chasing European football. An explosive derby beckons, with plenty at stake for both sides.
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