Liverpool v Everton predictions: Reds firepower looks key to derby success

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Liverpool and both teams to score
1pt 9-5 Coral

Team news

Liverpool
Roberto Firmino is nursing a minor foot injury but hopes to be in contention.

Everton
Andre Gomes, Donny van de Beek, Nathan Patterson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tom Davies and Andros Townsend are unavailable.

Match preview

Liverpool are getting close to the peak of their powers and should be far too strong for Everton in the Merseyside derby, but a one-sided betting heat can be livened up by backing a home win and both teams to score.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed watching his side in recent weeks and was beaming after they romped to a 4-0 success over Manchester United on Tuesday.

It was another outstanding performance from Liverpool, who have racked up 35 points from a possible 39 since the turn of the year. But there were a few moments when they left themselves open at the back and had to be rescued by either poor execution from their opponents or the goalkeeping of Alisson.

United officially had only two shots but the reality was rather different due to an incorrect 65th-minute offside decision which preceded two close-range efforts which were saved by the Liverpool goalkeeper.

With the help of VAR the conversion of either of those chances could have dragged United back into the game, and the vulnerabilities of Liverpool's backline will not have been lost on Everton manager Frank Lampard, who knows that even a single point could be priceless in his team's survival scrap.

The Toffees have scored in each of their last five games including an injury-time leveller in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at home to Leicester, but they remain at serious risk of being relegated for the first time since 1951.

For large parts of the game against Leicester they appeared to be heading for defeat, and it is hard to make a case for them against Liverpool, who are as tough an opponent as anyone in world football.

Everton have punched above their weight in numerous Merseyside derbies and were 2-0 winners at Anfield in February 2021, when there were no fans in the ground.

However, they have consistently failed to cope with awayday experiences this season, taking six points from 15 road trips, and it is hard to imagine them defending well enough to halt the Liverpool juggernaut.

Liverpool's attacking play has been outstanding in recent weeks with midfielder Thiago Alcantara often starting things off and the forwards – any three from Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino – linking up to devastating effect.

Klopp continues to play down talk of winning the quad but Liverpool could be one Manchester City mistake away from having everything in their own hands.

They could face ten more games by the end of May), which looks a brutal schedule, but Liverpool seem to have the depth and quality to cope and it is hard to see them dropping points this weekend.

Key stat

Everton have scored in each of their last five Premier League games

Inside info

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Free-kick wizard Trent Alexander-Arnold
Set-piece aerial threat Virgil van Dijk
Card magnet Fabinho

Everton

Penalty taker Richarlison
Free-kick wizard Anthony Gordon
Set-piece aerial threat Yerry Mina
Card magnet Richarlison

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