Former-Swansea bosses Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez go head-to-head in the Merseyside derby on Saturday
On Saturday Liverpool and Everton will go head-to-head at Anfield in the Merseyside derby.
Both teams are expected to be up at the top of the Premier League table this season, but both have made a poor start to their league campaigns.
That makes this weekend’s clash at Anfield even more important than it usually would be, with both teams in need of victory to get their seasons moving.
Changes
Part of the problem for Liverpool so far this season has been the number of summer ins and outs at the club.
The biggest exit was obviously star striker Luis Suarez who left for Barcelona this summer.
The Uruguayan’s exit has left a giant hole in the Reds attack which was always going to be difficult to replace. The Reds have brought in controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli, but the former-Manchester City striker has not yet settled into his new surroundings.
The number of fresh faces that have arrived at Liverpool this summer seems to have affected the cohesion of the team.
Defence
The Reds were poor in defence last season and Reds boss Brendan Rodgers decided to recruit a number of new defenders this summer. In came centre-back Dejan Lovren and full-backs Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno.
All three are likely to start in the derby on Saturday, despite the fact that the Reds continue to look shaky at the back. Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has even stated that he believes the Reds are vulnerable, which does seem to be the case.
Liverpool has lost three of their Premier League games this season, including an unexpected 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa. The poor start has dampened any expectations of winning the Premier League title this season.
Everton’s defence is the leakiest in the top-flight, with the Toffees conceding 13 goals in their first five top-flight games. The Toffees have looked very solid at the back in previous seasons, but now look leakier than a sieve with extra holes.
The Toffees backlines goals-against record was bettered only by Chelsea and title winners Manchester City last season. They were always solid under former-boss David Moyes, but this season that solidarity seems to have diminished.
The aging legs of centre-backs Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are struggling to keep out opposition attacks. The two central midfield protectors Gareth Barry and James McCarthy have also not been at the top of their game so far this campaign.
If the Toffees are going to finish anywhere near the top of the table boss Roberto Martinez needs to sort out their defensive problems.
Difficult
Everton were handed a difficult first seven Premier League games, with home games against Chelsea and Arsenal and visits to Liverpool and Manchester United. If Everton do not find form quickly then they are unlikely to be challenging at the top of the table this season.
Pivotal
This game could be a pivotal in both these teams’ seasons. A win could set either team on a good run of form. It would give them confidence and momentum. Another defeat would leave the losers still trying to find their form and rhythm.
The games between these two teams have meant more to the two clubs than bragging rights in recent years, as they have been relatively close to each other in the Premier League table.
Last season Liverpool’s 4-0 win against the Toffees helped transform the Reds from contenders for a Champions League spot to challengers for the league title. A similar result looks unlikely, but I am sure Liverpool fans would gladly accept that at the moment.
Goals
Everton are the second highest scorers in the Premier League, with only league leaders Chelsea having scored more goals this season in the top-flight. However, with the Toffees poor defensive record they are also likely to concede.
The Reds have not exactly been solid at the back this season either, so this Merseyside derby should bring goals, just like the ten from two Premier League meetings last season.
Betting News
The Reds look like the most likely victors, but as the cliché goes anything can happen in a derby match. One thing a derby match usually guarantees is drama and tomorrow’s game is unlikely to be any different.
Who will win Saturday’s Merseyside derby?
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