It has been tough being an Everton fan in the last three decades. A club traditionally one of the biggest in English football has fallen on hard times trophy-wise, and then we have to put up with that lot from across Stanley Park gloating at every opportunity.
This weekend the Blues host the City slayers at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime. Most pessimistic Blues fans have already predicted doom and gloom of another galling defeat. As we have not beaten Liverpool in eight years those negative predictions are understandable.
However, this derby could be the best chance that we have had to beat the arch-rivals in a long time. We will still mess it up somehow, but just let me put my case forward for a minute.
Reds have minds on the Champions League
As we never stop hearing about, Liverpool defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night. The win was a good one, but there is still a second leg to come on Tuesday night at the Etihad Stadium.
The tie is not over yet. The Reds only have to look back at their 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season to know that. Granted Jurgen Klopp’s side did have Sadio Mane sent off in that clash, but big results can happen.
City can also not be as bad as they were at Anfield. They were like rabbits caught in the Anfield headlights. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is likely to field a weakened team, despite protests that he will field a strong team.
In terms of meaning, this game has very little meaning to the Reds season. They can afford to lose it, as they have eight years of positive results in the bank. For Liverpool, City is the big game in the next few weeks, not the derby
Mohamed Salah may not feature
Liverpool boss Klopp has stated that he will not play star Mohamed Salah if he is not 100 percent fit after the Egyptian came off injured early in the second half against Manchester City.
For me, I believe the German probably would have rested their star man or at least limited his minutes on the pitch. Liverpool are by no means a one-man team, but Salah has been absolutely outstanding for the Reds.
He is, without doubt, their main attacking threat. In fact, he is one of the best attacking players in Europe. The Toffees beleaguered backline will be breathing a sigh of relief if he does not feature. However, the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino still possess enough quality to win the game.
Underdogs to win as usual
Everton have been truly atrocious at times this season and my assessment may be clutching at straws and one of a desperate Evertonian. The Blues are underdogs to win Saturday’s game at odds of 31/10.
The majority of Evertonian’s will head into this clash in a pessimistic mood, as the atmosphere amongst Blues fans this season has been like the one on the Titanic as it sank.
We want our team to win. However, if we do though, we will never hear the last of it from boss Sam Allardyce about how it was his tactical nous that secured the victory.
That is almost as delusional as his statement at today’s press conference that only a minority of fans want him out. No, Sam, I do not know any Everton fan that wants you managing our club next season.
We have experienced a tough campaign this season, after a summer that promised so much. Surely us Evertonian’s deserve just one derby victory? However, what we will likely get is a boss that parks the bus and a team scared of their own shadow.
Win, lose or draw in the derby, Evertonian’s mood will likely remain the same, as we are now accustomed to crushing defeat. I hold some hope that the Liverpool players’ minds will be on that City game and they fail to turn up, meteorically of course.
Evertonian’s live in hope that the new dawn of Farhad Moshiri’s will eventually have us competing with the Klopp’s side. However, I am not holding my breath on that one, as I could be waiting a long time for that to happen.
Does Everton have a chance of beating Liverpool?
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