Prediction: Everton vs Liverpool

Verdict: Total away goals over 1.5

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Betfair

Everton and Liverpool are set to clash in a historic final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

Originally scheduled for early December, the fixture was postponed due to Storm Darragh and will now mark the 245th edition of this fierce rivalry. Both teams head into the showdown looking to bounce back after suffering FA Cup exits over the weekend.

Everton

It feels almost poetic that the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park will unfold under the lights—a fitting tribute to a stadium long associated with unforgettable night matches.

Alongside the upcoming Goodison farewell against Southampton in May, few fixtures will carry as much emotional weight for Everton fans as this one, made even more special by the return of one of the club’s most iconic managers, David Moyes, to the dugout.

Since his return to Merseyside, Moyes has made a significant impact, guiding Everton to three consecutive Premier League victories that have lifted them nine points clear of the relegation zone. Wins over Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Leicester City, netting eight goals in total, have brought the Toffees to the brink of safety, bolstered by a vastly improved goal difference.

Remarkably, Everton led 3-0 at halftime against both Spurs and Leicester, achieving that feat in back-to-back home games for the first time in 63 years. This comes in stark contrast to their earlier struggles, having managed just two first-half goals at Goodison in their first 10 home fixtures of the season.

Moyes has already matched Sean Dyche’s total league wins from 19 games in just four outings. However, there was disappointment over the weekend, as Everton’s final cup match at the stadium ended in a 0-2 defeat to Bournemouth.

Wednesday night presents another formidable challenge for the Toffees. While they became the first team outside the Premier League’s top eight to win three consecutive games this season, their record against league leaders is concerning, with just four wins from their last 47 attempts against sides starting the day atop the table.

Facing Liverpool adds an extra layer of difficulty. Everton’s Merseyside derby record has been bleak since 2000, with only six wins from 54 encounters. However, after last season’s victory at Goodison, they have the rare opportunity to secure back-to-back derby wins for the first time in 40 years.

That defeat last season not only ended Liverpool’s 12-game unbeaten run at Goodison in the league but also extinguished any lingering hopes they had of claiming the Premier League title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at the helm.

Team News

Moyes fielded a strong Everton XI for the fourth-round tie against Bournemouth on Saturday, and the lineup is expected to remain largely unchanged for the Derby, with only minor tweaks likely on the flanks.

Vitalii Mykolenko, who missed the weekend’s defeat due to a calf strain, could return to the starting lineup, potentially replacing Ashley Young, sent off in this fixture last season. On the right wing, Jack Harrison might come in for Jesper Lindstrom after an encouraging performance off the bench against the Cherries.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, and Youssef Chermiti all sidelined through injury, Beto will lead the line for Everton. Meanwhile, Dwight McNeil remains unavailable after undergoing minor knee surgery at the end of January.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot will take charge of his first Merseyside Derby on Wednesday, with the Reds aiming for their 100th league victory over the Blues, an achievement only four other clubs have managed against a single opponent in Football League history.

Slot inherits high expectations following Jurgen Klopp’s impressive record against Everton, though the German often found Goodison Park a challenging venue. After winning his first visit, Klopp managed just one more victory in his subsequent seven walks across Stanley Park.

While local bragging rights are always at stake, this derby carries additional weight for Liverpool. A win would propel them nine points clear of Arsenal, finally capitalizing on a game in hand that has lingered for over two months.

However, with only two wins in their last 12 visits to Goodison, it’s far from an ideal setting for Liverpool to rebound after their FA Cup embarrassment over the weekend. The Reds became just the fourth Premier League leaders to be eliminated from the competition by a lower-league side, falling 1-0 to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

Despite being 19 games unbeaten in the league, advancing to the EFL Cup final, and cruising through the Champions League group stage, Slot’s men have shown vulnerabilities. Just three days after securing their spot in the Carabao Cup final, significant squad rotation against Plymouth exposed the gap in quality between Liverpool’s first-choice players and their backups. This over-reliance on key individuals could pose problems as the season progresses.

Team News

Slot is expected to make 10 changes from the side that suffered the shock FA Cup exit at Plymouth, likely reverting to the same XI that dismantled Spurs 4-0 in the Carabao Cup semifinal second leg on Thursday.

Luis Diaz, the only player to retain his place at Home Park, should keep his spot in the lineup. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa are all set to drop out.

Key players such as Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, as well as goalkeeper Alisson Becker, all rested against Plymouth, will return to the starting lineup. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s involvement is questionable, and Joe Gomez has been ruled out.

Conclusion

Having established a fine cushion between themselves and the relegation zone, Everton’s main motivation in this game will be to reduce their local rivals’ chances of winning the Premier League title if they can.

That, however, won’t be an easy task, with Liverpool fired up to respond to the FA Cup exit.

Verdict: Total away goals over 1.5

Best odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Betfair