Everton vs. Liverpool: Expect Jurgen Klopp’s Side to Thump Frank Lampard’s Faltering Toffees
Saturday 3rd September - 12:30
The Merseyside derby is always a battle that attracts a great deal of Premier League betting action, but anyone who thinks that the clash between these local rivals this weekend is going to end in anything other than a convincing victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side may well have to re-think their entire approach to sports betting.
Reds March On
Liverpool’s season is starting to look a lot healthier in recent weeks, and it’s clear that Klopp has taken his team to one side and read them the riot act. Their opening draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace were not ideal, but the manner in which they capitulated against arch-rivals Manchester United would have made the German wince.
No doubt he replayed the nightmare display to his squad on more than one occasion, pointing out their individual and collective failings, and anything Klopp has instilled and communicated to his team since that loss at Old Trafford seems to have worked.
The 9-0 drubbing of Bournemouth was a great reaction to that loss, and perhaps most impressive about that success was the fact that the man who they usually rely too heavily upon for an end product, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, didn’t even score or assist in the win over the Cherries.
This is proof that Liverpool have a number of options to frighten the life out of opposition defences, even after the sale of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich. They followed up the thrashing of Bournemouth with an inspiring injury-time win over Newcastle United, with teenager Fabio Carvalho netting his second in two games to give the home side another three-point haul.
Roberto Firmino has also very much stepped up his game, now that he’s back starting on a regular basis, with the cultured Brazilian racking up two goals and three assists against Bournemouth and a well-taken goal against Newcastle United.
The short trip to Goodison Park is always a big occasion, but there is very little for Liverpool to be concerned about ahead of the derby; it’s only complacency that can get in the way of another win, and that is no doubt something Klopp is keen to hammer into his squad.
Lampard Looking for First Win
Everton are still without a win this season, but they have managed to steady the ship of late; but Frank Lampard still needs to get his team up and running. The chances of their first win coming against their local rivals are very much slim to none.
The last time Everton ran out winners against Liverpool was way back in 2010 when goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta did the damage. That’s a run of 26 games; on a mental level, that’s the kind of run that isn’t easily overcome.
There are some green shoots of recovery happening in the blue half of the city. After losing their first two games of the season, to Chelsea and away at Aston Villa, Lampard’s men have collected three successive draws.
Worryingly for Lampard, the last two came after Anthony Gordon had given Everton the lead, and it’s now nine Premier League games since the club’s last clean sheet.
After Liverpool’s blip, this is perhaps the worst time for Everton to face Liverpool, and Lampard will have to approach the game cautiously. Even though the game is on their home patch, they’ll no doubt be very cagey from the first whistle.
The opening 15-20 minutes will be key for Everton, and if they can contain the opposition for the early portion of the game, then the home fans will get behind them; if they fall behind or are off the pace, then they may well be on the end of a drubbing.
Best Bets
Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah to Assist Each Other - 33/1
This is an interesting bet with William Hill that could make you a small fortune. Here you are backing Salah to assist his Colombian team-mate for a goal and for Diaz to also return the favour.
Clearly, this is something of a stretch but also not beyond the realms of possibility and a bet that lasts the whole game; in other words, it won’t necessarily be affected by Everton scoring a goal at some point (which frankly isn’t likely to happen).
