BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson is predicting a difficult afternoon’s work when his old team Liverpool take on fierce rivals Everton on Sunday.
The two teams are set to go head to head once again at Goodison Park, but Lawrenson believes the hosts will frustrate the league leaders to the tune of a 1-1 draw.
“I was at Anfield when Liverpool beat Everton in November as Jordan Pickford’s injury-time error let in Divock Origi for the winner,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website.
“Everton had played really well, from front to back. They created some really good chances but lost because of a piece of bad luck, and there is an argument that result has seriously affected their season. I wonder if things might even themselves out a bit here, which is why I am going for a draw – I just have a sense that things might not go to plan for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“If Everton are gritty, and approach the game thinking they want to take a point at the very least, then I can see them getting some joy,” he finished.
OPINION
This is an interesting take from Lawrenson. There likely won’t be many people putting money on the Toffees getting anything on Sunday considering the contrasting fortunes of the two teams this season. However, derby matches often confound the form guides. Everton got a big win over Cardiff City on Tuesday and will be riding high as a result, but Liverpool also claimed three crucial points when they destroyed Watford on Wednesday. It’s going to be difficult for the Reds to go to Goodison Park and win, but Klopp’s team can afford no more slip ups this season. They will be fully focused on the task at hand and will realise that this could be a massive moment in the title race. It’s for that reason that the visitors must be favoured to win, even though it will likely be a similarly gruelling victory as it was in the reverse fixture.
