Liverpool host Everton in the 247th Merseyside Derby on Saturday lunchtime at Anfield, with local bragging rights at stake in this historic rivalry. The Premier League champions welcome their neighbours for the traditional 12:30pm kick-off, continuing a fixture that has captivated Merseyside for decades.
Liverpool enter the derby with perfect form, sitting atop the Premier League table with 12 points from four matches. The Reds have developed a remarkable pattern of late heroics this season, scoring winning goals in the 83rd minute or later in five consecutive games across all competitions.
Late drama defines Liverpool's season
Liverpool's dramatic approach reached new heights in Wednesday's Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, where Virgil van Dijk scored a 92nd-minute winner. The match marked the fifth consecutive game requiring a late decisive goal, including Mohamed Salah's 95th-minute penalty to beat Burnley last weekend.
According to the Mirror, Liverpool have scored 29% of all Premier League goals in the 90th minute or beyond this season, netting four of the 14 total scored across the league in stoppage time. Manager Arne Slot acknowledged his team "should have made it easier for ourselves" despite praising their mental strength.
Derby dominance continues
Liverpool's home record against Everton remains formidable, with the Reds losing just once in their last 28 encounters at Anfield across all competitions. They have won the last four meetings since a 2-0 defeat in February 2021, maintaining their stranglehold on the fixture.
Everton face the challenge of overcoming a poor derby record, having managed just two wins in their last 29 Premier League meetings with Liverpool. The Toffees have failed to score in five of the last seven encounters, highlighting their struggles in this fixture.
Moyes seeks breakthrough
David Moyes returns to face Liverpool with a defensive-minded Everton side that has kept four clean sheets in five competitive matches this season. However, the manager has never won a Premier League game at Anfield in over 20 attempts, holding the joint-record for most games managed at a single stadium without victory.
Despite their derby struggles, Everton have shown resilience with seven points from their last three league games. The Toffees secured back-to-back wins over Brighton and Wolverhampton before drawing with Aston Villa last weekend.
Viewing and expectations
TNT Sports begins coverage at 11am for the 12:30pm kick-off, with streaming available on Discovery+. Liverpool Echo experts predict home victories ranging from 2-0 to 4-1, reflecting confidence in Liverpool's superiority despite Everton's improved defensive record.
The match represents Liverpool's quest to win their first five games of a league campaign for only the third time in their history. For Everton, breaking their Anfield drought would provide the perfect statement under Moyes' renewed leadership.
Sources used: "Mirror", "Evening Standard", "Liverpool Echo" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
