Liverpool came through their fourth round FA Cup match
unscathed at Bournemouth with a comfortable 2-0 away win. Liverpool are
currently one point above Everton with 43 points to put them in fourth place in
the Premier League. They have scored the second most goals this season with 53
and have the second best goal difference.
Everton advanced comfortably into the fifth round of the FA
Cup with a 4-0 away win over Stevenage, but it came at a cost as Brian Oviedo was
stretchered off with what is reported to be a fractured leg, adding to an
already growing injury list. Everton are heading to Liverpool having lost just
once in their last 15 Premier League matches and 17 matches in all competitions,
losing just three matches all season in all competitions and only two in the
Premier League.
What to expect
Liverpool have lost just 1 of their last 14 Premier League
Merseyside Derbies, having won 7 of those, and will be keen to pick up maximum
points at the expense of their cross-town rivals. Everton have won none of
their last 13 visits to Anfield, but the Toffees will have been boosted by
Liverpool dropping points in their last home league game against Aston Villa.
Liverpool’s José Enrique, Sebastián Coates, Glen Johnson,
Lucas Leiva, Daniel Agger and Mamadou Sakho will all miss the Merseyside Derby
with injury, but midfielder Joe Allen is back in training and will be assessed
closer to kick off. Raheem Sterling is expected to come in for Victor Moses
after starting from the bench in the FA Cup win over Bournemouth.
For Everton, Steven Pienaar and Gerard Deulofeu are doubts
for the game, but could be involved in some capacity for the match while Arouna
Koné, Darron Gibson, Bryan Oviedo, Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman are all set
to miss out through injury. New signing Aiden McGeady could make his first
league start for the Toffees, while loanee striker Lacina
Traoré is expected to come into the 18-man squad.
Match Prediction
Form generally goes out the window in a derby game and this
is likely to end in a draw, but with Suarez in their ranks, Liverpool could
just nick the three points.
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
