Two Merseyside rivals in very different veins of form renew hostilities for Wednesday’s Premier League derby, as Everton and Liverpool face off at Goodison Park.
Everton manager Rafael Benitez sought to immediately endear himself to the Goodison Park faithful with a bright start to the new campaign, but an alarming decline has seen the Toffees’ strong opening to the 2021-22 season firmly consigned to history.
After posting three wins from their first three at Goodison Park this term, Everton have since taken just one point from the last nine on offer on home soil, which will be music to the ears of Klopp’s in-form crop.
Klopp will need no reminding of the importance of points over the Christmas period before his ranks are depleted during the Africa Cup of Nations, but for a team that has scored at least two goals in each of their last 17 games in all tournaments, finding attacking inspiration should not be a challenge.
Liverpool and Everton played out a 2-2 draw in this fixture last term – which was best remembered for Van Dijk’s devastating injury – but the Toffees managed to win 2-0 at Anfield during the Reds’ home rut, and Benitez has all the motivation he needs to turn his side’s fortunes around here.
As the old saying goes, form goes out of the window when it comes to such a hotly-contested derby, and Everton’s recent record against Liverpool at Goodison Park will certainly serve as encouragement.
Each of the last four meetings between the sides on the Toffees’ turf has ended level, but a weakened Everton backline and misfiring attack are ill-equipped to take a point from this clash, with Klopp’s men sweeping aside almost everything in front of them at present.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
