Liverpool host their local rivals Everton in the first game of the Premier League weekend and it should be a belter. Last term the home side romped to a 4-0 win in the corresponding fixture, blitzing the Toffees with three goals in 17 minutes. Roberto Martinez’s men will be out for revenge but given their defensive frailties this term they could be up against it.
That said, Liverpool have struggled at the back too, and at home – where they have already lost to Villa, scraped past Ludogorets in the Champions League and drawn with Boro – and so Everton will know they have a decent chance. The game at Goodison last term finished 3-3 and was a real thriller and given both sides and both managers only really know one way to play we have to expect plenty of attacking football, goals and excitement here.
Everton are nearing full strength, although Ross Barkley is still out, whilst Liverpool may have Daniel Sturridge – who scored twice in the 4-0 last season – back. Overall we think there will prove to be little between the sides this term with Luis Suarez the main differential in the 2013-14 campaign. Recent history in this fixture points to a draw and if it’s anything like the last game at Goodison the neutrals are sure to be in for a treat. We suspect it will be so make sure you tune in and enjoy the show!
Liverpool v Everton Betting Tips
- Liverpool v Everton: draw – Derby matches can be unpredictable and with both sides struggling for top form this one could definitely go either way. However, given three of the last four league meetings have been draws we have to plump for a stalemate at odds of 14/5 with Sky Bet. Of the last 20 Premier League meetings between the rivals at Anfield there have been 10 draws and given the teams look evenly matched on paper the stalemate has to be the value pick here at 14/5.
- Both teams to score and draw – Neither side can defend this term, with both conceding a lot of goals and given both will feel they have the ability to win we think a score draw is the most likely outcome. Odds of 19/5 with BetVictor for the combined BTTS/Draw bet look brilliant value and one of the bets of the weekend.
- Over 2.5 goals – If you’d prefer something at shorter odds to add into an acca then backing over 2.5 goals looks a very good shout indeed, even at odds of just 11/17 with Ladbrokes. The only time Everton have failed to score at least two goals this term was in the League Cup where they made seven changes but equally they have conceded two or more in five of their seven games to date so we fancy you can bank on at least three goals here in what should be an open game.