Everton Hosts Liverpool in a High Stakes Derby
Everton vs Liverpool Lines Favor LFC in Merseyside Derby
Liverpool is Still in the Title Race
Liverpool suffered a big setback when they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace a couple of weekends ago but the Reds are still in the Premier League title race. On Wednesday, they’ll make the one-mile trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton in the Merseyside Derby. While Liverpool are fighting for the title, Everton are battling relegation once again. The Toffees are in 16th place, five points outside of the relegation zone for the time being. With a result on both teams’ minds, we’ll analyze the Everton vs Liverpool lines.
Everton vs Liverpool
Records: Everton (10-8-15), Liverpool (22-8-3)
Date, Time:
Location: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Stream: Peacock
Head-to-Head
Everton have failed to score in the last four Merseyside Derbies on the EPL schedule and have gone 0-1-3 during that time. Last October, Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool picked up a 2-0 victory at Anfield. The Everton vs Liverpool lines listed the Reds as -250 pregame favorites. Liverpool have won back-to-back games vs. Everton and they’ve won four of their last five. Liverpool haven’t lost at Goodison Park since 2010. Salah has seven career goals vs. the Toffees.
Everton Bounce Back in Controversial Circumstances
In an incredibly important match versus fellow relegation battlers Nottingham Forest, Everton picked up a 2-0 win on Sunday. Both of the Toffees’ goals came on long-range efforts. Idrissa Gueye managed to beat Matz Sels in the first half. Dwight McNeil got Everton’s second in the 76th minute to put the match out of reach. The match was quite controversial as Nottingham Forest didn’t receive any of the three potential penalties.
Still, with the victory, Everton went four points clear of 17th-placed Forest and five points clear of the relegation zone. If not for eight points worth of deductions this season, Sean Dyche’s Everton would be sitting in 14th place in the English Premier League standings. However, they’ll have to finish the season off strongly to remain in the EPL. With matches vs. Brentford, Luton Town, Sheffield United, and Arsenal after this one, there are certainly some winnable games on Everton’s EPL schedule.
Sunday’s result was also a successful bounce back from an embarrassing 6-0 defeat at Chelsea’s hands. Heading into this match vs. their rivals Liverpool, Everton have won two of their last three games. While Everton have scored the second-fewest goals in the Premier League this season, they’ve had the joint-seventh-best scoring defense.
Strong Second Half Secures Liverpool Win
Liverpool went on the road to Fulham on Sunday in a bid to shake off their Europa League exit at the hands of Atalanta. After losing the first leg of the UEL Quarter-Final 3-0 to Atalanta at Anfield, Liverpool could only muster a 1-0 win in Bergamo. Now, the Reds can focus on their Premier League title charge and they got a 3-1 win at Craven Cottage.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a brilliantly-taken free kick 32 minutes in but Timothy Castagne equalized for Fulham just before the half after a scramble in the box. Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota added goals for Liverpool in the second half to secure the victory. Jurgen Klopp’s last season as Liverpool manager has already produced an EFL Cup trophy but his players want to send him off with another EPL crown.
In underrated EPL betting news, Jota is fully fit and he provides Liverpool with a much-needed cutting edge in front of goal. Darwin Nuñez has had his moments but he’s still not a clinical finisher. All of Salah, Nuñez and Jota have reached the ten EPL goal threshold this season, though. LFC enter the week behind Arsenal on goal difference and one point ahead of third-placed Man City. However, City have a game in hand on both Arsenal and Liverpool.
Match Analysis & Odds
Liverpool come in to Wednesday’s match as sizable favorites. The Everton vs Liverpool lines currently price the Reds at -250. Liverpool are 9-5-2 on the road in the Premier League this season but have drawn three of their last four matches at Goodison Park.
A draw sits at +400 odds, while hosts Everton are +600 underdogs. Everton have gone almost five hours of play vs. Liverpool without a goal but Everton over 0.5 goals sits at -200. After all, Liverpool have conceded in each of their last six Premier League games.
Bettors also have the option of backing Everton +1, +1.5 at -110 or Liverpool -1, -1.5 at the same price. Sunday marked Liverpool’s first win in the EPL on the road by more than a one-goal margin since February. Under 3.5 goals show -160 odds, as Merseyside Derbies rarely turn into shootouts. Everton will be happy with a point here but Liverpool need to win to stay in the title race.
