Liverpool are already looking ahead to what is a huge date with Everton next week.
The Reds have two games to play in the meantime, with cup games against Tottenham and then Plymouth to come first.
However, while both are important matches for Liverpool, there’s little question that next Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby is the big one.
Having been re-arranged from December, the game against Everton represents Liverpool’s game in hand over their Premier League rivals.
If the Reds can win, they’ll go nine points clear of Arsenal. Anything but and the Gunners will not be any closer, but they will suddenly not seem so far back.
One man who is well-versed in the art of the derby is former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson. But having seen Everton bully the Reds in a 2-0 win at Goodison Park last April, Thompson doesn’t expect much to change next week.
Phil Thompson insists Liverpool are coming for Everton
Liverpool’s defeat at Goodison on April 24th 2024 was actually the last time they were beaten on the road in the Premier League.
Since then, the Reds have charged to the top of the table in a new season under a new manager, while Everton have also had a change in coach; Sean Dyche replaced by David Moyes.
Moyes has so far done brilliantly on his return to the blue half of Merseyside. The Toffees have won each of their past three matches by an 8-2 aggregate.
And speaking on TalkSPORT, Thompson said that while he expects a fight from Everton, Liverpool are coming to bring them back down to reality.
“Listen, they are scoring loads of goals, they’re doing well, Moysey’s doing great,” says the 71-year-old. “So much respect for Moyesy and it will be a tough game.”
“They beat us last year, we’ve got to go there ready. They’ll do the same thing, sit back and hit on the counter. They had a great win at the weekend, but we are coming to get them.”
Liverpool must rise to Everton challenge
Had Liverpool faced Everton when they were actually supposed to, there’s a strong argument that they would have been more likely to win.
The game back then was supposed to be played on a Saturday lunchtime and would have been a way to ease Arne Slot into this rivalry.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 23 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 56 | 21 | 35 | 56 |
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 16 |  EvertonEverton | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 28 | -5 | 26 |
But with Everton in top form and under the lights at Goodison Park for one last time against Liverpool, it suddenly feels like a much more testing assignment.
Nevertheless, the Reds know that a trip across Stanley Park is always one of their toughest away days, no matter the state Everton are in.
Arsenal will be watching on and hoping, and Liverpool need to make sure they stand up better than they did last April. This is all set to be a big one.
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