Everton boss Ronald Koeman is tasked with becoming the first Toffees boss to win at Anfield in 18 years
As an Everton fan, it is difficult to express how frustrating it is to come up against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby. There is almost a sense of foreboding every time we play against the Reds.
That sense of foreboding will be firmly within me when the two teams take to the field at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.
The reason for this feeling is the fact that Everton seem to have this inferiority complex against Liverpool, even when there is not much difference in quality in the two sets of players.
Liverpool have a psychological edge
Liverpool have gone 12 games unbeaten against Everton, which is their longest unbeaten run against any team in the Premier League era. This run has not always been based on the Reds being particularly brilliant, but often more a psychological edge Liverpool have over Everton.
Form may go out of the win in derby matches, but for Everton that could be a disadvantage. The balance of power of Merseyside between the two teams has not been so clear cut in recent years. The gap between the two teams has not always been that big in terms of quality.
Everton will head to Anfield on Saturday in good form, as one of the form teams in the Premier League in 2017. However, much of that good form has come on home soil. Their away record has not been great of late.
Logically, though, with Liverpool heading into this clash in inconsistent form, Everton should fancy their chances. A lot of Everton fans will not feel that way because the Blues seem to buckle under the pressure of derby expectation.
If the Blues are going to change that poor record there needs to be a confidence and a belief that comes from the players and the coaching staff.
Poorly scheduled internationals hurt both teams
I was moaning last week at the timing of the recent international break. Saying the games were pointless and the break was poorly timed by UEFA. Scheduled in the final few months of the campaign, why not have the qualifiers at the end of the season? The friendlies were just pointless.
Both Everton and Liverpool suffered for the international break. Everton lost Republic of Ireland full-back Seamus Coleman of course after a horror challenge by Wales Neil Taylor left the 28-year-old with a broken leg.
The Toffees also suffered the loss of midfield man James McCarthy, which seems to be causing an international incident between boss Ronald Koeman and Irish counterpart Martin O’Neill. McCarthy was a big miss when he had to be substituted in the reverse fixture.
Liverpool also lost key attacking midfielder Adam Lallana, who could miss four to eight weeks of the campaign having been away on international duty with England. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp questioned the timing of the recent internationals. I am with you on this one Jurgen, as much as I hate to say it.
Set to be a tight encounter
For me, I might be slightly biased, but I am do not believe there is much between the teams in terms of quality. Liverpool are favourites to win this game at odds of 8/11, while the visitors are odds of 17/4 to end their 18-year hoodoo at Anfield.
The loss of Coleman will be a blow for Everton, but youngster Mason Holgate has proven a very able performer at Premier League level this season.
How the game goes probably depends on how Everton boss Ronald Koeman decides to approach this game. He decided to go very defensive against Tottenham recently and it just allowed Spurs to control the game and eventually win 3-2.
However, Liverpool tend to struggle against teams that come and sit in defend, so maybe that tactic could prove fruitful for Everton. That would however maybe negate the threat of the likes of Ross Barkley and striker Romelu Lukaku, who has been on fire in recent months.
Both could still cause problems on the counter-attack, especially if the likes of pacey attackers Kevin Mirallas or Enner Valencia start the game.
The Merseyside derby is always a difficult one to call. I will certainly be sitting behind the sofa, looking at it through my fingers, because quite simply the derby has become a horror show for the Blues in recent years. I just hope Saturday’s game changes that!
Can Everton break their Liverpool Anfield on Saturday?
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