Game week 14 predictions: Liverpool to worsen Everton's woes

Liverpool will look to strengthen their title credentials at the expense of Everton on Wednesday, can the Toffees stop them? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 

Everton vs Liverpool

Goodison Park

9:15pm

Everton are in no man’s land, the honeymoon is over and five consecutive losses and a huge fall off the log points to a dire time for the man many didn’t even want on the job… Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool are flying, another 4-0 success over the weekend against Southampton and a great opportunity for them to further establish themselves as the real kings of Merseyside after Everton took the larger share of the spoils last season, it’s a statement game.

Merseyside derby is one with rich history and like every other major derbies in world football, form goes out the window when this sort of fixture comes knocking, Liverpool knows this and they will be well prepared for the trip to their city neighbors.

Everton have gone from mixing it at the top to being just five points above the drop zone, another loss here will heap pressure on the already embattled Benitez and it can even signal the end of his relationship with the blue half of Merseyside.

Liverpool are no strangers to Benitez, he guided them to champions league glory in 2005 and helped them to compete so highly in the premier league but his announcement as the manager of Everton to succeed Carlo Ancelotti surprised most.

Everton are without a few first team members, Abdoulai Doucoure missing in the midfield is a problem, and for their goal scoring challenges, how do you explain the absence of Dominic Calvert Lewin? It’s always going to hurt any team.

Liverpool can welcome everyone back after knocks here and there, Bobby Firminho is the only doubt here but Diogo Jota should be available to suffice yet again; Mohammed Salah was not among the scorers last time which was a huge shock for Liverpool to score four and no traces of Salah on the board.

Liverpool are expected to win this, but if there’s a fixture that can restore confidence to the Evertonians and send signals of comfort and reprieve to the fans, it is this one, but can the Toffees stop the front three of Salah, Sadio Mane and Jota?

Verdict: Liverpool to win