Game Week 5 Predictions: Liverpool to edge Merseyside derby at Anfield

Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby, with Salah, Isak, and Grealish in focus as the champions aim to extend their dominance at Anfield.

Liverpool's late show will face another test against their bitter city rivals Everton on Saturday, who's your money on? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Liverpool vs Everton

Anfield Stadium

12:30pm

It’s amazing how there’s so much fuss about this fixture, yet it has been nothing short of one-sided over the last decade. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Merseyside derby!

Liverpool is on top of the log, and if their records against their bitter city rivals are anything to go by, then the champions will remain on top of the log for at least another game week; however, we don’t know if they will be leaving it late again.

Five straight games this season have produced a winning goal after the 83rd minute, with the latest show coming in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid in midweek. Is their dramatic late win a strategy or a coincidence that will soon expire?

Let’s talk about Everton, shall we? It wasn’t exciting last weekend, but they scraped a draw against troubled Aston Villa; it was a game in which many predicted them to win considering how blunt Unai Emery’s side is this season.

Jack Grealish has galvanised the Toffees, and it seems like he will be the star of the team like he was at Aston Villa. The England playmaker was a star in a galaxy at Manchester City; now he can flourish as the main man at Everton. Will he stamp his prints on this fixture?

One way to steal the hearts of the Everton fans is to perform in a Merseyside derby, and Jack Grealish and co. would hope to have a filled day away from home, but their record at Anfield isn’t something they can draw inspiration from.

Alexander Isak had his Liverpool debut against Atletico; it wasn’t one with lots of sparks, but that was his first game since May. He will hope to get minutes against the Toffees, and it’s left to be seen how Arne Slot sets up his team to accommodate the Swede and Hugo Ekitike.

Mohammed Salah scored a late penalty last weekend against Burnley; it was a game that looked destined to be a draw until Mejbri Hannibal came on to concede a lousy penalty. The Salah we know is yet to show forth. Is this the fixture in which he will regain his mojo?

Illman Ndiaye is another player to look out for in this fixture; the young man is going about his business quietly and impressively, as is Dwight McNeil, and you feel Liverpool must do their business early in this one; leaving it too late might come home to roost.

Verdict: Liverpool is to win.