Liverpool vs Everton analysis: Five key battles and score prediction

The Merseyside derby is back at Anfield on Wednesday night, with Liverpool losing only one of their last 24 league derbies at Anfield.

This game is the 246th meeting between the two clubs in all competitions, the most played fixture in English football history.

The rescheduled derby earlier in the season was one of the matches of the season, resulting in a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Liverpool enter the match 12 points clear at the top whereas Everton are unbeaten in nine league games.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joseph Hannen looks at five key battles which will decide the outcome of the derby, including a look at the managerial head to head showdown.

Mohammed Salah vs Vitaliy Mykolenko

Just the 27 goals and 17 assists this season for Liverpool’s Egyptian king in the Premier League, including a goal and an assist in the reverse fixture.

Salah sits top among all players for big chances created (21), xG per 90 (0.77), and second for chances created with 69.

He holds an impressive record of eight goals in 12 matches against the Toffees, including a brace in last season’s derby at Anfield.

Wednesday night will be Salah’s 393rd appearance in red, although as of now Salah will still be a free agent in the summer.

Desperately trying to shut Salah down will be Ukrainian international Mykolenko.

The full-back has won 48 tackles won, 31 interceptions and 141 clearances so far, ranking third amongst Everton players in each category.

Despite Everton’s good form, they haven't kept a clean sheet in their six matches, following a 4-0 win over Leicester.

Salah has failed to score in only one of his last eight league matches, meaning Mykolenko is in for his toughest match-up of the season.

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Virgil van Dijk vs Beto

Another senior player whose future at the club is not secure, Van Dijk has been key to Liverpool since his arrival in January 2018.

The dominant Dutchman has contributed to 12 league sheets, equalled only by Nottingham Forest.

Van Dijk has won 69.4% and 71.2% of his duels and aerial duels this season, with an impressive 91.9% passing accuracy.

Liverpool’s captain has been extremely consistent this season and was their best performer in their collapse at Wembley to Newcastle last time out.

Looking to get the better of him will be Beto, a player redefined following David Moyes’ arrival at Goodison earlier this season.

The 27-year-old has five goals in his last seven matches, his best run of form since arriving in August 2023 from Udinese.

Beto is Everton’s joint leading goalscorer with six league goals, coming from 32 shots - the second highest amount across Everton players.

Worrying statistics include a poor 41.5% duels won and 60.6% pass accuracy for the Guinea-Bissau international.

Beto opened the scoring in the reverse fixture but is goalless in his last three outings.

Ryan Gravenberch vs Abdoulaye Doucoure

Gravenberch’s breakout season has been remarkable and is another key reason for Liverpool’s healthy gap at the top of the league table.

The holding midfielder has started every league match this season performing at the highest standard and chipping in with two assists.

Gravenberch boasts the most interceptions amongst the squad with 50, as well as sitting third for tackles won (28) and blocks made (31).

Arne Slot’s arrival has had a huge impact as the midfielder will make his 42nd appearance of the season in all competitions and his 80th since his September 2023 arrival.

Battling him for control will be Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was awarded a red card in the reverse fixture following the last-minute chaos of James Tarkowski’s leveller.

The versatile midfielder has struggled for goal contributions this season, with only two goals and an assist to his name.

Doucoure has won only 38.6% of his duels and has committed 40 fouls.

He averages a goal every eight matches since joining and has scored only once in 15 against the Reds.

Cody Gakpo vs Jarrad Branthwaite

Comfortably Liverpool’s second best forward this season, the natural left winger has seen himself often leading the line for Liverpool.

His nine league goals ranks him second amongst the squad, a worrying stat for Liverpool and especially strikers Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, who have five each.

Gakpo has matched last season's goal tally of 16 in all competitions in 13 less appearances and has proved to be another beneficiary of Slot’s arrival.

The forward has had 87 touches in the opposition box, has 84.2% passing accuracy and has created 30 chances.

Up against him will be Branthwaite, subject of major interest from Manchester United in the summer.

Everton’s academy graduate has cemented himself in Moyes’ side with 65 appearances since his 2022-23 loan at PSV.

Branthwaite has helped towards seven of Everton's nine clean sheets and assisted Beto’s opener at Goodison Park.

The 6ft 4ins defender has a 54.8% tackle win rate and a 62.9% duels win rate.

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Arne Slot vs David Moyes

A first meeting between the two at Anfield awaits as tensions boiled over at Goodison with Slot seeing red.

Slot’s side will line up in their customary 4-3-3 shape looking to attack from the off following a brutal week prior to the international break.

The Champions League knockout to PSG followed by defeat in the Carabao Cup final was a rude awakening, but Slot has largely impressed across the season with Liverpool, comfortably the best team in the Premier League.

Liverpool remain unbeaten in the league since matchweek four, whereas Everton have four wins and five draws in their last nine.

Everton sit 17 points clear of the drop despite being 15th whilst Liverpool sit 12 clear at the top.

Across his management career, Moyes has only six wins in 43 attempts against Liverpool, losing 26.

Score prediction

If the previous derby is anything to do by, then an extremely fiery and tense affair is expected.

Slot will be desperate to grab the win after Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser ruined his maiden Merseyside derby.

I expect Liverpool’s firepower to outshine Everton’s stubborn defence with Liverpool taking away three points.

Scoreline: Liverpool 2-0 Everton

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