Everton vs Liverpool: Preview, Stats, Team News

English Premier League Match Review:

Coming into this match on the back of the Phil Jagielka stunner which leveled the proceedings at Anfield earlier this season, expectations will be low as far as the Evertonians are concerned.

Residing at 12th in the Premier League table with just 1 win since the dawn of New Year, Everton – the 1st time in ages – would be going into this match as the underdogs. However, as they say that form goes out of the window when bitter rivals meet, Roberto Martinez would be hoping for something similar on Saturday night.

Talking about Liverpool and although they are on an un-beaten streak, it is that time of the season which will define their position come end of May. Travelling to Everton this weekend before facing Tottenham in the very next fixture, Liverpool might either touch the sky or crash to the reality, depending upon the outcome of these two fixtures.

Although their current form suggests that the Reds haven’t lost any of their last 11 fixtures in the league, their form against the top 7 teams of last season have been poor. With just a win against Tottenham to show for, Liverpool have managed just 4 points from the possible 18 against the top 7 sides.

However, with Sturridge returning to the squad and Raheem Sterling scoring goals for fun, it will be the Reds that will go into the Goodison Park as favorites on Saturday.

Team News

Here are the team news for both sides: –

Everton

While some people started questioning the role of Martinez at Everton, the un-expected win at Palace last weekend has postponed the thorough scrutiny with which the Spanish was dealing with, since the start of this year.

Courtesy to the calf injury which he suffered some time ago, Tim Howard has been ruled out of this match which paves the way for Joel Robbies to make his 7th appearance for the club.

However, coming back to some good news for the blue half of Liverpool, the Irishman James McCarthy is expected to get rid of his Hamstring injury before the match.

But with Leon Osman and Stevan Pienaar still sidelined courtesy to foot and knee injuries respectively, Everton might field the same squad which earned them 3 points against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Liverpool

Talking about Liverpool and although they have been handed a huge boast last week in the shape of Daniel Sturridge, the Reds are expected to go one better as the Englishman is expected to start this match which will be his 1st for the side in all competitions since the end of August.

However, just when they thought that the injury scare was behind them, the latest setback suffered by the Serbian Lazar Markovic might prompt Rodgers to make some changes in his final 11.

The injury to the Serbian has come at such a time when he was finally looking of worth the money that Liverpool paid for him. But in his absence, Adam Lallana is expected to make start for Liverpool.

Stats

• Going into this match, Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard have been top-scorers for the club with 5 goals each.

• Romelu Lukaku has been the top-scorer for Everton since making his move permanent from Chelsea in the summer. The Belgian has scored 7 goals since.

• Last season when these sides met at the Goodison Park, Liverpool had to rely on an injury time Daniel Sturridge goal to salvage a draw

• Last player to score a hat-trick in this particular is the Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard. Gerrard became the 1st player for Liverpool to score a hat-trick against Everton since Ian Rush in 2012.

• This fixture has produced more red cards than any other fixture across the tiers of English football.

• If he manages to nick one through, Steven Gerrard will become the 3rd highest goal-scorer in the derby

• The derby against Everton will mark the 100th appearance for Brendan Rodgers as a Liverpool manager in the Premier League.

Everton Vs Liverpool will be played on 7 February 2015 at 18:30 GMT MatchCentre

Everton vs Liverpool: Preview, Stats, Team News