Prediction: Liverpool vs Everton

Verdict: Liverpool win

Best Odds: 17/20

Bookmaker: Bet365

With a spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup and Merseyside bragging rights up for grabs, Everton will make the trip across Stanley Park when they visit Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool

Starting with the hosts, putting in another dominant display and breezing past Sheffield United thanks to a 2-0 win on Thursday night, Liverpool have marched through a whole calendar year unbeaten and the mood in their camp couldn’t be any high. Opening 2020 with a commanding 13-point buffer at the top of the table and already with one hand on lifting their first Premier League title come May, Jurgen Klopp’s newly crowned Club World champions have continued to save their best performances for home soil. With a Champions League knockout tie against Atletico Madrid on the horizon, the former Borussia Dortmund boss has seen his side win each of their last 19 matches at Anfield against Premier League opposition, a run that stems back to the 30th of January 2019. Along with both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah finding the net on Thursday, Klopp will be most impressed by his side’s newfound resolve at the back. Including their exploits at the Club World Cup, the Reds have recorded four clean sheets on the spin.

Team News

Jurgen Klopp is set to hand new arrival Takumi Minamino his Liverpool debut this weekend.

Young winger Harvey Elliot and defender Nathaniel Phillips who recently returned from his loan spell at Stuttgart could be handed a senior debut.

Everton

As for the visitors, while Everton may have left the Etihad on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat against the reigning champions, the Blues have made a string of improvements since parting ways with former boss Marco Silva. With Carlo Ancelotti’s new squad asking City a string of questions on New Year’s Day, they have skyrocketed away from the drop zone after picking up back-to-back victories over Newcastle and Burnley. With the mood around Goodison at a continued rise and the likes of Richarlison and starlet Dominic Calvert-Lewin doing an eye-catching job of leading Everton line, there is no doubt that Ancelloti will be calling on his side to find some much-needed stability on the road. Including being hit with a 5-2 defeat when they made the trip across Stanley Park last month, Sunday’s guests have lost seven of their last 10 matches against Premier League opposition while away from Goodison, the Blues have also recorded just a pair of victories on the road since the end of March.

Team News

Everton will assess Bernard, who withdrew from the starting line-up against Manchester City after being injured in the warm-up.

Fabian Delph’s knee problem will also be monitored, but Morgan Schneiderlin returns following a calf injury.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met at Anfield last month, Liverpool picked up a 5-2 win.
• Everton have not beaten their bitter rivals since October 2010
• Liverpool have won their last 19 matches at Anfield against Premier League opposition.
• Sadio Mane has scored in back-to-back matches.
• Everton have lost seven of their last 10 Premier League matches away from Goodison.

Conclusion

While Jurgen Klopp is expected to make some alterations on Sunday, it is hard to bet against the runaway champions, especially at Anfield. Picking up a 5-2 win when Everton made the trip across Stanley Park last month, coupled with the Blues’ woeful record against their bitter rivals, we’re backing Liverpool to come out on top this weekend and book their spot in the fourth round of this year’s FA Cup.

Verdict: Liverpool win

Best Odds: 17/20

Bookmaker: Bet365