Everton vs. Liverpool: EPL Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

On Wednesday night, in a Premier League matchup, Everton will face Liverpool in what promises to be a heartfelt last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Before the 245th edition, both teams were eliminated from the FA Cup over the weekend, forcing the rescheduling of the match that had been postponed at the beginning of December due to Storm Darragh.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

The weather may have been the deciding factor, but it seems destiny that the last meeting between these two teams would occur under the lights at Goodison Park. This stadium has been linked to unforgettable night matches throughout its lengthy history.

This match and May's Goodison finale against Southampton will be the most emotionally charged for Everton fans. With the return of one of the club's longest-serving managers, it will be an extra memorable occasion.

Everton won their last three Premier League games under David Moyes's guidance, putting them nine points out of the relegation zone.

Everton are now within striking distance of a sure spot in the playoffs after their eight-goal victory against Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City, and Tottenham Hotspur. Their goal differential has also improved significantly.

After failing to score in the first half of any of their first ten home games this season, Everton cruised to 3-0 halftime leads against Spurs and Leicester, their first such advantage in consecutive home games in 63 years.

Despite Moyes's impressive four-game winning streak, Everton's 2-0 loss to Bournemouth in Saturday's cup match was a significant letdown. Sean Dyche won 19 games in his tenure as manager.

The Toffees will face another tough evening on top of becoming the first club outside the top eight in the Premier League to win three games this season (with four wins out of 47 matches against teams who started the day top of the league). Even more worrisome is that it is against Liverpool since Everton has a pitiful record in this matchup since the new century.

After last season's success at Goodison, the hosts can win back-to-back derbies for the first time in 40 years. Everton have won only six of 54 games since 2000.

After a 12-game winning streak at Goodison last season, Liverpool's championship chances in Jurgen Klopp's penultimate season as manager came crashing down the drain after a defeat here.

It would be the seventh occurrence in Football League history for a team to register three-figure wins versus another. Under new manager Arne Slot's watch, Liverpool aims to win their 100th league match against Everton.

After Klopp's stellar record versus Everton, Slot has much to live up to. However, the legendary manager had little success at Goodison, winning only once in seven visits after winning the first.

Although local pride is at risk, Liverpool has much more riding on this match than local pride. A victory would put them nine points ahead of Arsenal, who they have held for over two months, and they would need a win to cement their position.

However, Goodison is not the best place to come following a humiliating FA Cup loss last weekend, when Liverpool became the fourth Premier League leaders to lose to a lower-league team. Goodison has only won twice in twelve visits to the cup.

Despite Slot's men being undefeated in the league, having advanced to the EFL Cup final, and cruising in the Champions League, Plymouth Argyle nevertheless managed to defeat the Reds 1-0 at Home Park on Sunday, so eliminating them from the FA Cup.

It became evident that Liverpool's bench isn't up to snuff with their starting eleven only three days after they made it to the EFL Cup final; moreover, the club risks future problems due to its dependence on a few players.

Everton x Liverpool Team News

With only one or two changes to the wide players being the most probable adjustments, Moyes may start the same powerful Everton XI that faced Bournemouth in the fourth round on Saturday.

After sitting out Saturday's game with a calf injury, Vitalii Mykolenko may start in Ashley Young's stead; Young was sent off in last season's match against Liverpool. On the right wing, Jack Harrison, who was impressed briefly off the bench against Cherries, might replace Jesper Lindstrom.

The hosts will start Beto up front with injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, and Youssef Chermiti. Dwight McNeil, who had minor knee surgery at the end of January, will also not play.

Slot will likely use the same starting lineup that defeated Spurs 4-0 in Thursday's second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, making ten changes from the team that lost at Plymouth.

Despite Luis Diaz's lackluster performance, he will likely keep his starting position since Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa are all expected to be benched.

Several players, including Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah, did not make the trip to Plymouth. Although these players will be back, Trent Alexander-Arnold will not play any games in the following weeks due to Slot's pessimistic assessment of his prospects.

Our Predictions

Under 2.5 goals @ 2.21 on Sky247.ng

No team has scored more injury-time victories against another than Liverpool against Everton in the competition (five). Still, no game in Premier League history has seen as many 0-0 draws as this one (12). The entire home crowd will be terrified that something similar will occur on their special night.

Everton hasn't much left to play for since they are nine points above the relegation zone and out of the FA Cup. Their goal will be to stop Liverpool's run for the championship, but they could lose this game.

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