Fierce local rivals Everton and Liverpool will renew hostilities when they meet at Goodison Park for a Premier League clash on Wednesday.
LFC vs. Everton FC
Wednesday, December 01, 2021 – 03:15 PM EST at Goodison Park
The Reds are second in the table after sweeping aside Southampton and Arsenal in their last two games. They have eight wins, four draws and just one defeat from 13 Premier League matches so far this season, and they are surging with confidence right now.
The situation is a lot bleaker for Everton. The Toffees suffered a 1-0 defeat to newly-promoted Brentford on Sunday, and they have now gone seven games without a win. That has seen them slump down to 14th in the Premier League table, 13 points behind Liverpool, and manager Rafa Benitez is clinging onto his job. A heavy defeat to Liverpool could be the last straw.
Liverpool Poised to Reassume Regional Supremacy
Everton has an impressive recent record against Liverpool. It held the Reds to a 0-0 draw towards the end of the 2019/20 season, and it took four points off Jurgen Klopp’s men last season.
However, Liverpool is in the formidable form right now, and it appears all but certain to reassert its superiority over its local rival. If you go a little further back, Everton has just two wins in its last 25 games against the Reds. Liverpool has dominated this fixture during the Premier League era.
Forwards Excel for Liverpool
Klopp’s men thrashed Southampton 4-0 at the weekend, and they eased to a 4-0 win against Arsenal in their previous Premier League game.
They are now the top scorers in the division by a comfortable margin, with 39 goals in just 13 games. They have been even more prolific on the road than at home, with 21 goals scored in just six away trips. That works out at 3.5 goals per game on their travels.
Roberto Firmino is currently out injured, but an attacking triumvirate of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Diogo Jota has proved unstoppable. Jota scored twice against Southampton, before a rejuvenated Thiago Alcântara fired in the third, and Virgil Van Dijk scored the fourth.
Van Dijk’s return from injury has been the catalyst for Liverpool’s revitalization this season. It is now a genuine title contender once more but rivals Chelsea and Manchester City have also been sensational, so it cannot afford to let its standards slip. It should beat Everton without too much trouble on Wednesday.
Team News
Liverpool will have benefited from an extra day of rest, as it beat Southampton on Saturday, whereas Everton lost to Brentford on Sunday.
Star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still out injured, and the Toffees’ attack has been extremely toothless in his absence. Brazilian forward Richarlison was suspended for the game against Brentford, and Salomón Rondón posed very little danger to the Bees’ defense. Richarlison should return to the team against Liverpool, providing more thrust in attack, but Everton could still struggle against a Reds defense that has kept three consecutive clean sheets.
Firmino, Naby Keïta, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott are injured for Liverpool, but Klopp has a deep squad at his disposal.
Picks
Bet365 has a very tempting -103 on Liverpool -1.25 Asian handicap for this game. SugarHouse Sportsbook and BetRivers are offering -110 on the same market if Bet365 is not available in your state, and DraftKings has -120 on that outcome.
The -122 available on Salah to score at any time also appeals. He drew a blank against Southampton, but he is the top scorer in the Premier League this season, with eleven goals in thirteen games, and he has the pace and movement to punish Everton’s defensive frailties.
