PREMIER LEAGUE MONDAY: The Striker previews the Merseyside Derby between LIVERPOOL v EVERTON with FACTMAN stats and a recommended BETDAQ bet.
LIVERPOOL V EVERTON
8pm We have Monday Night Football to enjoy in the Premier League on BETDAQ Betting Exchange this week, and it’s a spicy fixture too! There’s been a huge gulf in class in the Merseyside Derby over the last few years as Liverpool have had a golden era and Everton have been really struggling. Everton still are really struggling, but Liverpool have gone massively backwards this season and suddenly Everton come to Anfield with more confidence than usual. The Merseyside Derby is usually a tight affair, but Liverpool have been conceding goals for fun this season!
Liverpool started the matchday sitting in mid-table, and what started as a “slow start to the season” has become a nightmare. They are likely to miss out on Champions League football next season which will be a massive blow to the club. Jurgen Klopp doesn’t seem to be any under pressure in his job, but you have to ask the question how long can this spell go on for? The 3-0 loss to Wolves last weekend was embarrassing, and Wolves completely outplayed them too – it wasn’t like it was an unlucky loss – Wolves finished the game with an xG of 2.89.
You don’t have to look far to find Liverpool’s major issue this season. They have been all over the place at the back. I have to say I was very surprised that they have been so poor after the World Cup. I felt during the World Cup Klopp would have had time to fix their issues or find a system that works. They have conceded more goals since, and Klopp seemingly has no answers. I don’t think Liverpool will pull the trigger and sack him, but it is very worrying that he hasn’t be able to set his side up well at the back for months.
Liverpool are conceding an average xG of 1.8 this season, which is absolutely massive for a top club. You usually see stats like that from sides in the relegation battle. For as bad as Liverpool have been too, things could be even worse. Their actual goals conceded works out at only 1.4, so they should be conceding even more! That’s good news for Everton fans, but the Toffees come into this game with their own issues. They are still one of the favourites to go down this season.
The surprise win over Arsenal last weekend was obviously a huge boost, a much needed three points and a great start for Sean Dyche. Everton have had a huge amount of issues at the back themselves, but to keep league leaders Arsenal down to an xG of just 0.76 was an impressive performance. It will be interesting to see how Dyche sets up Everton here because he must surely know an open game will bring lots of chances against this Liverpool side.
Liverpool come into the game as the odds on favourites, but I couldn’t consider backing them at the moment – especially at odds of 1.56. I know Everton have been very poor this season, but Liverpool have been very sloppy at the back and there will be a feel good factor with Dyche and Everton at the moment. I feel the best option here is to stay away from the match odds market and back Over 2.5 goals at 1.78. Both sides are very poor at the back, and backing Overs in Liverpool games has proven very profitable this season – that can continue and I’m happy with a confident three point bet.
The Striker Says:
Three points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.78 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/LivEvr
FACTMAN MATCH STATS
● Liverpool have lost just one of their last 22 home league games against Everton (W12 D9), going down 2-0 in February 2021.
● The Merseyside derby has finished 0-0 more often than any other fixture in Premier League history, with the reverse meeting between Everton and Liverpool this season the 12th time the match has finished goalless.
● This is the eighth Premier League meeting between Liverpool and Everton on a Monday, with no fixture being played on the day more often. Everton are unbeaten in their three such games at Anfield, drawing in February 1998 and January 2009, and winning 1-0 in September 1999.
● Liverpool are winless in their four Premier League games so far in 2023 (D1 L3), netting just one goal so far. Only once in the Premier League era have they had a longer winless run at the start of a calendar year (5 games in 2017).
● Liverpool have failed to score in their last three Premier League games, as many times as in their previous 65 matches combined. They last went four league games without a goal in January 2021, with the fourth game in that run a 1-0 home defeat to Sean Dyche’s Burnley.
● Everton are looking to win consecutive Premier League games for the second time this season, previously beating West Ham and Southampton in September/October. However, the Toffees have won just two of their last 27 away games in the competition (D7 L18).
● Including their winner against Arsenal last time out, three of Everton’s last five Premier League goals have come from corners. Just three of their previous 30 in the competition had come from such situations.
● Just two of the 22 individual managers to have taken charge of Everton in a league Merseyside derby have won their first ever meeting with Liverpool (D12 L8) – Joe Royle in November 1994 and Dick Molyneux in October 1894. Sean Dyche will be the 10th manager whose first such game is away from home, with none of the previous nine winning (D4 L5).
● Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in 99 Premier League goals in 103 games at Anfield (70 goals, 29 assists). He could become the 13th player to reach 100 goal involvements at a single ground in the competition, while if he does it in this match, he would be the third quickest after Alan Shearer at Ewood Park (74 games) and Thierry Henry at Highbury (92 games).
● Since the resumption of the Premier League following the World Cup break, Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez has had more shots (22) and shots on target (10) without scoring than any other player in the competition.
