Everton vs Liverpool: Merseyside Derby Preview as Toffees Run Out of Excuses

This is a Merseyside derby. That means nothing else matters on Sunday. Not the week before, not the week after. You compete or you don't. Simple as that.

Everton's Form Is a Problem

The thing is, Everton's recent numbers are not just disappointing. They are unacceptable for a club of this size. One win from their last five Premier League matches. Three goals scored in that window. Six conceded. That is not a run of bad luck. That is a standards problem.

They lost to Arsenal, losing that match zero-two. They lost to Chelsea, losing that match zero-two. Listen, you can dress that up however you like. Two home performances where they did not score a single goal. Then they drew two-two with Hull City and scraped a one-nil win over Ipswich. That is the extent of what they have to build on going into the biggest derby in the country. End of.

Everton have kept two clean sheets in their last five league matches. I will give them that. The defensive structure is there on the right day. But their attacking output is next to nothing. Three goals in five matches tells you all you need to know about the desire to hurt teams going forward.

Liverpool Are Not Perfect But They Are Better

Liverpool come into this with three wins from their last five Premier League matches. Liverpool beat Brighton two-nil. Liverpool beat Brentford two-one. Liverpool beat Bournemouth one-nil. That is a team that knows how to grind out results. They drew nil-nil with Fulham and lost zero-three to Manchester City. That City defeat is the only real blemish.

Liverpool have kept clean sheets in three of their last five league matches. That number stands out. A team that defends well and wins matches consistently is a team with accountability running through it. They are not without problems. They arrive at Goodison with injury and suspension issues that would concern any manager. But the thing is, even a depleted Liverpool side has more going for it right now than this Everton team.

Head to Head Tells a Clear Story

The recent head-to-head record between these two clubs gives Everton supporters nothing to cling to. In the last two meetings between Everton and Liverpool, Liverpool have won both. Everton scored two across those two games. Liverpool scored four. Both matches produced goals at both ends but Liverpool were the better side when it mattered.

The average goals per game across those two meetings sits at three. Both games produced goals for both teams. Do not expect a dull affair on Sunday. But do not expect Everton to suddenly discover an attacking threat they have been missing for weeks either.

The Verdict

Everton need to show something here. Not just for the result. For their own standards. This squad has the ability to compete. Whether they have the attitude to do it against Liverpool at this specific moment in their season is the real question.

Liverpool have the better form, the better defensive record in recent weeks, and the psychological edge from that head-to-head. They carry disruption to their squad with multiple absences through injury and suspension. That is the one genuine uncertainty. But I trust my eyes on this. Liverpool are the better side right now. I am backing Liverpool to win this match. Back it straight. No accumulator nonsense.