English Premier
2019-03-03 - Everton vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 3rd March 2019 - Kick Off 4:15pm
This game is live on TV
Everton
A season of disappointment to this point could be sparked for Everton on Sunday if they are able to produce a big result in the final Merseyside derby of the season. Having the chance to host a fixture against their title chasing rivals has to get the fans pumped for the occasion and they will want to see the same from Marco Silva and the starting eleven in the final Premier League game of the weekend.
Europe is still not out of the question for Everton next season and playing in the Europa League is seen as a key part of the development of the club to crack into the elite of the Premier League. It is entirely possible 7th place will come with a Europa League spot and Everton come into the weekend in 9th place and 4 points behind the two clubs immediately above them. The Toffees have a 6-3-5 record at Goodison Park this season where they have scored and conceded 21 goals.
Everton took advantage of having a 17 day break between games to snap a 3 game losing run in their 0-3 win at Cardiff City on Tuesday evening. They return home this weekend for the first time since early February and Everton have won just 1 of their last 7 Premier League games at Goodison Park. The bigger worry for the fans has to be the 4 losses in their last 5 League games here.
Leighton Baines is the only doubt for Everton ahead of what many will consider to be the biggest game they have left this season.
Liverpool
There have been suggestions Liverpool have been feeling the pressure of the title race, but Jurgen Klopp may well believe that his side have suffered a blip and have come through it with a lead in the Premier League table. The 5-0 win over Watford showed Liverpool are ready for the battles ahead and this really feels like it could be one of the last truly big obstacles between them and a first League title since 1990.
Both Liverpool and Manchester City won during the week which means it is Liverpool who remain top of the table by a single point, but things could have changed by kick off with Manchester City playing on Saturday. The Reds have a 9-4-1 away record that they will take in the short journey across Stanley Park and Liverpool have scored 24 goals and conceded 8 in those games.
Liverpool are now unbeaten in their last 8 games in all competitions, but draws in 3 of their previous 4 Premier League games before the win over Watford just opened the door for Manchester City in the title race. They have now won 1 of their last 5 away games in all competitions and Liverpool have had to settle for back to back draws on their travels in the Premier League at West Ham United and Manchester United.
Dejan Lovren is expected to miss another game for Liverpool, but Roberto Firmino could have recovered from a knock that forced him to miss the win over Watford.
Head to Head
Liverpool scored a crazy injury time winner against Everton back in December when Jordan Pickford brought a ball back into play that looked to be heading out for a goal kick and gave Divock Origi a simple finish from within the six yard area.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 7 visits to Goodison Park, but 5 of those games have ended in draws including a goalless draw when they last met here in April 2018.
Prediction
The final game of the Premier League weekend comes from Goodison Park where Everton will be hosting the latest Merseyside derby. Some will suggest this is the biggest game left for Everton as they look to dent their rivals' push for the title, but Everton have things to achieve this season like finishing 7th and possibly getting a spot in the Europa League for the next campaign.
Marco Silva has been under pressure in recent weeks as Everton suffered an upset in the FA Cup Fourth Round at Millwall and have been in pretty miserable form in the Premier League. The win over Cardiff City during the week will have eased some of the tensions at the club and there is no doubt the fans will be fully invested getting behind the team.
Liverpool also earned a morale boosting win during the week as they crushed Watford at home, but they seem to have something of an Indian Sign over that club. It is the third time in a row they have beaten Watford by a five goal margin at Anfield, but games at Goodison Park have been a battle for them in recent years.
They don't lose often here, but Liverpool have had to leave Goodison Park with a point in 5 of their last 7 visits. One of the exceptions was a game in which Sadio Mane scored in injury time to win 0-1 here, while the other was a 0-2 win where Jack Rodwell was sent off after 23 minutes and Liverpool struck twice in the final 20 minutes to win.
It has proven to be hard work and Everton should be fresh having had a 17 day break in the middle of this month and also having had an extra day to prepare for this fixture than Liverpool have had. In recent weeks Liverpool have just had a few issues in the final third in putting teams away and they have only won 1 of their last 5 away games in all competitions.
I would be keener on backing Everton if they had not lost 4 of their last 5 games at Goodison Park in the Premier League. Some of those losses have come by wide margins because they have conceded too many goals, but the squad is perhaps in a better place both mentally and physically for this fixture. They can cause problems for a Liverpool team who have not been entirely convincing defensively and I would be surprised if this is an easy day for the visitors.
Having a full goal start with Everton knowing the stake will be returned if they lose by a one goal margin looks the play here. In recent years they have proven to be a tough team to beat, while Marco Silva has managed Hull City to a home win over Liverpool and Watford to a home draw with this opponent in his time in England.
He has been under pressure at Goodison Park, but Marco Silva can earn himself some leeway from the fans by guiding Everton a big result here. It won't be easy if Liverpool have found their form, but Everton with the start looks the play.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Everton 1-1 Liverpool
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Everton + 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 BetVictor
