Liverpool vs Everton. Premier League.
AnfieldAttendance52,920.
Saturday 1 April 2017 16:11, UK
Liverpool and Everton meet in the 50th Premier League Merseyside derby, live on Sky Sports 1HD on Saturday.
The Reds have finished above Everton in the previous three seasons but Ronald Koeman's men are only six points off their rivals and an away victory could change the dynamic of Liverpool's recent domination on Merseyside.
Everton have lost just one of last 12 Premier League games (W8 D3) and have taken 27 points from a possible 36 since Boxing Day.
However, this is the Blues' longest run of games (13) without a league win over their rivals.
The Toffees' last win at Anfield in any competition was in 1999, when Kevin Campbell netted in a 1-0 win.
Liverpool go into the game as the only team still unbeaten against top-half opposition in the Premier League this season and they are the top scorers in league with 61 goals.
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana will miss the derby with a thigh injury sustained on international duty.
Captain Jordan Henderson is still not fit to return from a foot problem which has sidelined him since early February.
Striker Daniel Sturridge is training outdoors again after seven weeks out but is still working under the rehabilitation coaches and will not feature.
Everton will be without Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Ramiro Funes Mori and Morgan Schneiderlin.
The international break was a dreadful one for the Toffees, as Coleman suffered a horrific double fracture to his leg playing for the Republic of Ireland against Wales, team-mate McCarthy aggravated a hamstring problem in the warm-up before that match, and Funes Mori tore his meniscus while playing for Argentina.
Koeman has subsequently revealed that Schneiderlin, who came off in Everton's last game with to a calf injury, will be sidelined this weekend as well.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 league encounters with Everton (W5 D7 L0). Only once before have they gone on a longer undefeated run against their neighbours (13 games between 1972 and 1978).
Everton's last Premier League win at Anfield was in September 1999 (W0 D8 L8 since) and they have lost two of their last three away games there by a 0-4 scoreline.
This fixture has seen 21 red cards shown, more than any other Premier League fixture. Ramiro Funes Mori was sent off at Anfield last season for Everton.
Klopp could become the first Liverpool manager to win his first three league Merseyside derbies.
Romelu Lukaku has scored five times against Liverpool in the Premier League, but only one of those goals has come at Anfield (February 2013 for West Brom).
Romelu Lukaku has scored 10 goals in the 80th minute or later in Premier League games this season - this is a Premier League record in a single campaign alongside Kevin Phillips in 1999-00 (10).
Ross Barkley has created more goalscoring chances than any other English player in the Premier League this season (67) and this tally is already more than he's posted in any single league campaign.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 14 Premier League games against the current top 10 this season (W8 D6 L0).
Everton have a few injuries and I think they're going to be hurt by them. Half of their back four is out, and I know Lallana is missing, but I'm going for a Liverpool win here.
Liverpool have to hope for the top four, that's all they have left, and they really have to win this game. If Everton win this game, then go and beat Manchester United, you've got to fancy them to have a chance of reaching the top four. It's a big if, though.
A lot of Everton supporters believe this might be the year they break the hoodoo, which has been hovering around Anfield for them since 1999, but I can only see Liverpool winning this one.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0, 7/1 with Sky bet
Liverpool are hot favourites at 8/13 with Sky Bet for Merseryside derby glory at Anfield this weekend as they play host to their big rivals from across Stanley Park. Klopp's side have won their last three at home by two goals and a victory by exactly that margin once more can be backed at 7/2.
The Toffees have won three out of their last four and are on offer here at 4/1 while the stalemate can be backed at 3/1. Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are 9/2 joint-favourites to open the scoring with Lukaku an 11/2 chance.
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