Paul Merson thinks this afternoon’s Merseyside derby at Anfield could be quite different from recent encounters.
Liverpool enter the match as Premier League leaders, having just managed to maintain their perfect start to the season with a win over Burnley last weekend. Meanwhile, Everton sit in a respectable joint-sixth place, having earned seven points from their first four games. It’s been a long time since Everton approached a derby with such a strong position in the league. Although their away record against Liverpool is poor—just one win in 26 years—David Moyes’ squad might feel confident about claiming points against their local rivals.
Merson shared his Merseyside derby prediction for Sportskeeda, suggesting that Everton will be more attacking than they have been in recent Anfield visits.
He said: “I can’t recall Everton having this many attacking weapons against Liverpool before! Lately, Everton have gone to Anfield with little hope, focusing on defense and hoping for a lucky chance. But this time is different. For the first time in ages, Everton have real attacking quality. Players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye, and Jack Grealish have shown what they can do. The derby is always intense, but I think this one will be better than what we’ve seen recently. Everton fans will go to Anfield believing they can win, which will certainly boost the atmosphere.”
Despite this optimism, Merson still predicts Liverpool will narrowly win 2-1, extending their lead at the top of the table to six points.
Today’s Merseyside derby promises to be exciting. Everton have lost their last four derbies at Anfield and haven’t scored in any of those matches since a 2-0 win behind closed doors in early 2021. However, as Merson notes, their attack is stronger now—especially with Grealish, who has already provided four assists since joining on loan from Manchester City.
Liverpool, on the other hand, boast potent attackers like Mo Salah and Alexander Isak. Florian Wirtz’s impressive performance against Atletico Madrid recently showed the kind of impact a top player can have—the Reds’ counterattacks were thrilling to watch. Recent derbies at Anfield have been tight affairs, often decided by a single goal, but this season’s early games suggest there could be plenty of action today.
Fans will be hoping Arne Slot’s team don’t have to wait until the last minute to secure a win, but for Liverpool supporters—who Virgil van Dijk has urged to play their part—the result matters most, no matter how it’s achieved.
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