Local pride goes on the line as Everton take the short trip across Stanley Park to take on local rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night. Everton’s season has taken a nose dive lately with the clubs winless run extending to 6 games following a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton, a result which has left them languishing in 12th. Liverpool meanwhile had a very good week last week with the club coming from a large deficit to secure a semi final spot in the Europa League against Borussia Dortmund and then beating Bournemouth 2-1 on the weekend. Everton are in a weird situation where this derby isn’t even their biggest game of the week as the club undoubtedly have one eye on their FA Cup semi final on the weekend against Manchester United, and expect Martinez’s team selection to reflect that
Liverpool Team News:
Liverpool did suffer a couple of casualties in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth on the weekend with Kolo Toure (hamstring) and Divock Origi (back) both facing fitness tests ahead of the game. Liverpool will be without the likes of Can (ankle), Henderson (knee), Benteke (knee), Skrtel (groin), Ings (knee), Gomez (knee) and Rossiter (hamstring).
Possible Starting XI: Mignolet, Flanagan, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Lucas, Milner, Firmino, Lallana, Coutinho, Sturridge
Player to watch: Daniel Sturridge
When fit and firing, Daniel Sturridge is amongst the top strikers in the league, however that has been the huge issue for the Englishman who has struggled with a multitude of injuries in the past 2 years. Liverpool fans will be hoping he is finally over those issues and can get a good run of games till the end of the season. Sturrdige does have all the attributes to be a top class striker, he has the pace, the technique, the physicality and the goal sense, and with a leaky Everton defence, he should fancy his chances to add to his goal tally.
Everton Team News:
Everton suffered a big blow with Seamus Coleman suffering a hamstring injury which will sideline him for the Liverpool game and also the semi final on Saturday. The Irishman joins club captain Phil Jagielka, who has a knee injury on the sidelines alongside Hibbert and Browning. James McCarthy returns from his one game suspension following his red card against Crystal Palace. The major issue will be the team selection with the FA Cup semi final on Saturday being the main focus for the club, Lukaku and Barkley were both on the bench for the Southampton game, and it will be interesting to see if Martinez risks these two ahead of the game.
Player to watch: Ross Barkley
Having grown up in Wavetree, Barkley knows all about the importance of local pride and the Merseyside Derby. He also knows the horrid record Everton have in these games, especially at Anfiedl, and for Everton to break these records, then Barkley is going to have to be at the centre of it. Despite a poor season for Everton, Barkley has bounced back from a poor season last season and has found the form which made him such a highly touted youngster, and he will look to continue his decent season with a good performance on Wednesday night.
Match Facts & Stats
1. Everton are currently winless in their last 10 league meetings with Liverpool, losing three of those. This is their longest winless streak since 1984.
2. Liverpool has only lost once in their last 18 league meetings with Everton, with the only Everton win coming back in 2010 courtesy of a 3-0 win at Goodison Park.
3. Liverpool has only lost once in their last 8 league games, whereas Everton are winless in their last 6 league games.
4. Firmino has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last 11 games, and Sturridge has scored four goals in his last five games.
5. Lukaku has scored five goals in his seven league appearances against Liverpool
Match Prediction:
Given the form of both sides, the history of both sides, especially at Anfield and given the fact that Everton have one eye on Saturday with the FA Cup, it is very hard to see anything but a Liverpool win. Think it will be typically close, but Liverpool will edge it out 2-1.