Premier League: Ton Up For The Toffees On Derby Day

Everton vs Liverpool

It is the 100^th league Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and, given the milestone, it is fitting that this clash is one of magnitude.

For Liverpool yes, but for Everton I hear you cry?

For a side which has only beaten Lincoln, Bournemouth, Huddersfield, and Cardiff since the turn of the year?

For a side which has conceded as many goals as they have scored all season?

For a side which sits in ninth place in the Premier League and is a staggering 33 points off the summit where their old foes and neighbours currently sit?

Oh yes. It is for those very reasons – and there are others – why this match is of epic proportions for both sides. It is called pride and, in footballing parlance, local bragging rights.

Talking Points

Everton, naturally, do not want their arch rivals to win the title. That would make Premier League 2019 news too much to bear for any die-hard Toffee.

Of course, they are also desperate for revenge after a Jordan Pickford howler gifted their arch rivals a last-gasp victory in December at Anfield.

It definitely hurt Everton players and fans alike to the core, especially after playing so well. That will ensure they are extra determined this Sunday.

Boss Marco Silva, under pressure after a barren run, acknowledged earlier this week that he is, in effect, on trial and needs results to vastly improve.

If he could mastermind a long overdue victory in the Merseyside derby, Everton fans would probably give him a pardon for the rest of the campaign.

It is a big ask, of course, because Liverpool are top and— while under pressure themselves— remain favourites to claim English football’s top prize for the first time since 1990 – two years before the Premier League era even began.

Liverpool aim to beat Everton to maintain their one-point lead over Man City at the top of the Premier League table — Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates at the end of the match

They have faltered recently after a virtually flawless first half of the campaign. They now know that if they win their final 10 league games, they will be champions no matter what. Other than losing the services of the crucial Virgil van Dijk to injury or suspension, it is hard to see Liverpool slipping up too much between now and the end of the season. But then again, the red half of Merseyside have not been in this position for quite some time.

And even when they were, most recently in 2014, nerves and home expectation got the better of them.

Perhaps playing away from home will help? Not that the Goodison faithful will give them a warm welcome.

It’s derby time!

History

It is a rich and illustrious history which captures the imagination whether you’re a ‘Blue’ or a ‘Red’.

As the second most successful club in the country, it should come to no surprise that Liverpool have traditionally held the upper hand with 119 wins to Everton’s 82, with 82 draws.

You have to go back to October 2010 for the last time Everton won the Merseyside derby.That afternoon, goals from fans’ favourite Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta sealed a 2-0 success at a raucous Goodison Park.

In the time since their last victory in the fixture, Everton have beaten 32 of the other 33 teams they have faced in the Premier League.

The only survivors from that afternoon all belong to Everton with at least one of Phil Jagielka, Seamus Coleman, and Leighton Baines expected to be involved this weekend.

Since then, they have met on 18 occasions (16 in the league and twice in the FA Cup) with Liverpool winning nine times and nine meetings ending all square.

Betting Tip

	Everton vs Liverpool	1X2 draw @ 3.70
	MArch 04, 00:15(GMT+8)

Fresh from a 5-0 dismantling of Watford, (and the fact Everton have lost eight of their last 12 matches), Liverpool are red hot favourites, whichever way you look at it.

They are priced 1X2 @ 1.60 with Everton well adrift @ 5.80. Even the draw comes in @ 3.70.

It’s a similar situation with Asian Handicap betting where you can get odds on Liverpool -1.00 @ 2.08 and -1.25 @ 2.40.

Everton, in contrast, are available at + 0.75 @ 2.12.

The Double Chance Everton or Draw is available @ 2.24 and a repeat of last season’s goalless draw – correct score 0-0 – will payout @ 11.00.

My tip for the weekend was going to be total goal 2-3@ 1.96. Yet on reflection, I felt that too safe and looked at the other options for you SBOBET fans to consider with our Premier League 2019 betting odds.