Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Everton vs Liverpool
When: Saturday 1st October, at 12:45 UK Time
Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
The Game of the Season
Everton boss David Moyes is used to working miracles with a limited squad, but this year his powers look set to be tested to the limit. Little significant transfer activity in the summer, a key player in Mikel Arteta leaving, and a loss of striking power in the sales of Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu – Moyes has seen his depth and talent base weakened.
And while that may make sustaining a challenge for the Champions League spots – or the sole Premier League Europa League place – almost impossible, there is little reason the Toffees cannot have a broadly enjoyable season. Beating Liverpool would be at the heart of that and the Everton crowd will back Moyes’ boys to the hilt at Goodison Park.
Everton’s limited arrivals mean that Liverpool should be familiar with what greets them on the Goodison Park pitch, and perhaps this indicates that those that have landed in Moyes’ squad, such as Dutch winger Royston Drenthe, could be game changers. Drenthe, who joined on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, needs no encouragement to be the man who shoots Liverpool down.
"You don’t have to tell me it is a really important game", said the quick winger. "If I am on the pitch I will give more than 100% to help get the Blues the three points. I know how important it is for the Evertonians who support us in every game."
Making an Average Start Better
It is a measure of the targets Liverpool have set themselves this season that what is widely regarded as a solid and promising start – bar a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur – by the rest of the Premier League, is viewed as "average" by Reds’ assistant manager Steve Clarke. "Without getting too carried away or too disappointed it’s probably just an average start", commented the Scot. "You’re probably looking at seven out of ten."
With Liverpool having spent over £100M since 2011 dawned, Clarke may well have a point, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and the club’s boss Kenny Dalglish will undoubtedly be looking long term in his plan to secure a top four spot once again. And Liverpool’s new boys are, Dalglish believes, ready for the intensity of a derby day game.
"I think Rangers against Celtic will have given Charlie [Adam] a good grounding. For Andy [Carroll], the North East derby isn’t to be undermined either, and for Stewart [Downing] Villa against Birmingham isn’t the smallest of derbies is it?
"They may not have experienced one of these derbies before, but everyone has experienced a derby of some sort."
Recent form
Everton:
Everton 3-1 Wigan (17/09; Premier League)
Everton 2-1 West Brom (21/09; League Cup)
Manchester City 2-0 Everton (24/09; Premier League)
Liverpool:
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Liverpool (18/09; Premier League)
Brighton 1-2 Liverpool (21/09; League Cup)
Liverpool 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (24/09; Premier League)
Key absences
Everton: Tim Cahill (doubt); Victor Anichebe
Liverpool: Glen Johnson (doubt); Daniel Agger (doubt)
Players to watch
Everton – Royston Drenthe: The former Feyenoord starlet is hoping to relaunch his career at Goodison Park and helping Everton to a Merseyside derby win would be a great way to take a big step towards doing that. Drenthe showed something that convinced Real Madrid to pay €14M for his services in 2007. The Dutchman lost his way at the Bernabeu, but remains an exciting talent, with bags of pace and no shortage of confidence.
Liverpool – Luis Suarez: A game like this looks custom made for Suarez, who thrives in hostile environments and knows all about big derbies from his time with Ajax in the Eredivisie. Still looking a bargain at £23M, Suarez has it within himself to change the course of the Merseyside derby and he is guaranteed to be a player Everton’s backline fear.
Match Predicition
Everton kept Manchester City at bay for long periods last weekend and could well do the same with Liverpool. However, at home the emphasis will be on Moyes’ side to attack and this will offer Liverpool the perfect opportunity to mount quick and incisive counter attacks. A fierce affair with neither side prepared to give ground, expect an entertaining draw. Everton 1-1 Liverpool.
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