Everton face in-form Liverpool at the Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby. Liverpool are currently in third place in the Premier League with 28 points from 13 games, while Everton are sitting in the bottom half of the table at 14th position with only 15 points. Everton went down to Brentford on the weekend, while Liverpool cruised past Southampton as they beat the Saints 4-0 at Anfield.
Having now suffered five defeats from their last six in the Premier League – including each of their last three away from home – Everton have slipped to 14th in the table, and one of the Premier League’s ever-presents are now just six points above the relegation zone. After posting three wins from their first three games at Goodison Park this season, Everton have since taken just one point from the possible nine points at home.
Everton have a high number of aerial duels won per 90 minutes and have won a total of 214 aerial duels so far. Liverpool are a very strong team aerially, and they do put in a lot of crosses from both flanks. The Everton players will have to be alert throughout and will have to deal with the aerial balls that Liverpool will play.
The above visual shows us Everton’s shot map against Brentford. Everton had a total of 12 attempts on goal and managed to keep four efforts on target. All four of their shots on target were saved by the Brentford keeper. They had a total of eight shots from inside the penalty area but failed to convert those chances. Everton will not get as many chances against Liverpool and will have to be effective in front of the goal.
Everton constructed most of their attacks from the wider areas of the pitch against Brentford. They put in a lot of crosses from both flanks. As a result, their fullbacks had the highest xT from the crosses they put into the penalty area.
A fourth consecutive Anfield win and clean sheet in all competitions saw Liverpool take advantage of Chelsea’s draw against Manchester United to move to within two points of the league leaders, but the third-placed Reds are also one point behind Manchester City after 13 games.
Liverpool have scored 39 goals so far, the most this season, and created the highest expected goal rate of 34.17. They have a very high xG of 2.44 per 90 minutes. Klopp’s men have attempted 232 shots his season, the most in the league. 90 out of the 232 shots have been on target.
Liverpool have been dominating possession of the ball in most of the games. They have a high match tempo (the number of passes they are completing in a minute when they have possession of the ball) of 18.94. Liverpool are likely to see more of the ball and can control the tempo of the game accordingly.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has generated the second-highest overall expected threat and has a high xT of 0.60 per 90 minutes. He has provided seven assists so far in the league, and his passes are always a threat to the opposition defense.
Everton will try to bring their Premier League campaign back on track against their bitter rivals, but it won’t be an easy task, as Liverpool are in top form and will be looking to remain close to Manchester City and Chelsea.
Everton predicted starting lineup:
Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Digne, Townsend, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi, Gray, Richarlison.
Liverpool predicted starting lineup:
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Jota, Mane.
