Everton vs Liverpool | 2020.10.17

The Merseyside derby contested between Everton and Liverpool is always one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures on the Premier League calendar. With the Toffees riding high at the top of the table, this season’s meeting is set to be even more exciting.

Local derbies are always tough to predict. Pre-match form and history can often go out of the window as soon as the whistle is blown. If you’re struggling to select your bet for Saturday’s game, PlayersBest’s expert team of football tipsters is here to help. Strap yourselves in as we predict how the match should go.

After several seasons of obscurity, former footballing giants Everton are finally returning to their rightful place as one of the best sides in England. The Toffees’ start to the Premier League campaign has been nothing short of sensational.  Carlo Ancelotti’s side have won all of their opening four games, scoring a division high 12 goals in the process. Key to this has been the form of new signing James Rodriguez. The former Real Madrid man has already registered five direct goal involvements and is seriously impressing alongside recent England debutant Dominic Calvert-Lewin who has scored six times himself.

The Reds come into this game fresh from the worst result in the Jurgen Klopp era and possibly the club’s modern history. Last time out Liverpool were defeated 7-2 (yes, seven!) by Aston Villa – a team that many tipped to struggle this season. The game exposed a defensive insecurity that has seldom been seen in recent times and Klopp will be seriously worried about the prospect of facing the club’s Merseyside rivals. However, it is important not to overstate the importance of the Villa result. Liverpool are still one of the best sides in Europe who will be chomping at the bit to prove their doubters wrong.

The first ever fixture between these two rivals took place all the way back in 1894, which Everton won 3-0. Since then, Liverpool have taken the advantage, winning 121 contests to the Toffees 82 – while 84 games have ended in a draw.

This trend has certainly been expressed in more recent meetings between the two sides. Unbelievably, Everton have not tasted victory against Liverpool since October 2010 and there have been over 20 fixtures since then. Last season, the Reds cruised to a 5-2 victory at Anfield in the league, before a much rotated side then won again in the FA Cup in January. The most recent fixture between the pair ended was a drab 0-0 draw.

A great way of taking your sports betting to galactic levels is by doing a deep dive of the statistics before selecting your bet. It’s a key part of the PlayersBest process. Make sure you check over the following stats carefully before selecting your bet this weekend.

After a lot of soul searching and analysis, we are tipping Liverpool to continue their incredible record against the Toffees and bounce back from their disastrous last result with a win on Saturday. We’re also backing it to be a high scoring game.

Although it may be tempting to back in form Everton to spring a surprise on Saturday, you simply cannot look past the reigning Premier League champions. Liverpool have been seriously tested in the past and Jurgen Klopp’s side have always come up with the answers. They aren’t called the ‘Mentality Monsters’ for nothing.

Everton will certainly put up a hell of a fight and the Reds must be wary of the Toffees extensive attacking threat, however their Merseyside rivals will likely prove to have too much for them in the end.

The very best odds on our tip come courtesy of 888sport who are offering a generous 29/10 on a Reds win and over 3.5 goals this weekend.