Pundit Paul Merson has shared his bold prediction for the Merseyside derby, in which Liverpool will welcome Everton to Anfield on Monday night.
Taking to his Premier League predictions column for Sportskeeda, the former Arsenal hero claimed that although the Reds have been all over the place this season, he can’t see them losing to the Toffees.
“I watched Liverpool the other day, and I thought they were better against Wolves than they were against Brighton,” Merson wrote.
“If they’d made it 2-1, I think they would’ve got something out of it. Towards the end, however, I was very worried for Liverpool when they had the ball. They just didn’t have the fire in them.
“This is a good game for Liverpool. It’s the Merseyside derby, and the fans will be up for it. Everton will sit back and absorb the pressure. They’re going to work on getting a goal from a set piece. They’ll have ten men behind the ball and one up front.
“I think Liverpool need a calm head with composure and experience. Fabinho hasn’t had the greatest of seasons in the Premier League, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back for this game alongside Thiago and Jordan Henderson. They’ve got experience, and you need seasoned players in a Merseyside derby.
“Liverpool’s defence has been all over the place this season, but Everton aren’t going to have much of a go at them. Liverpool will have to defend their set pieces because that’s what Everton will live on. I’d be shocked if Liverpool fail to win this game. Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Everton.”
Merson thinks Liverpool will beat Everton
There’s no two ways about it, this will be an extremely difficult game for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Since the turn of the new year, Liverpool have lost three of their last four Premier League fixtures.
This doesn’t bode well going into the Merseyside derby. However, it certainly doesn’t bode well coming up against a side who have just appointed Sean Dyche.
The former Burnley boss has only been in charge for one game at Goodison Park, but he got off to a flying start when James Tarkowski headed home, leading to a 1-0 Everton win over league leaders Arsenal.
Dyche will set up an ultra-defensive team to face Liverpool on Monday, so it will be tough for the Reds’ out-of-form attack to get chances through on goal.
This is set to be a difficult test for the Reds, but we believe the Anfield crowd will see them over the line.