Liverpool vs. Everton: Key Issues That Will Shape Merseyside Derby
Everton and Liverpool lock horns for the 223rd Merseyside derby on Saturday in the Premier League's early kick-off.
Both sides enjoyed relative success last season, Liverpool mounting a prolonged title charge and Everton falling a few games short in the race for fourth place. This season, however, things have been a little more subdued.
The Toffees have just one win in five Premier League games and are on a run of two straight defeats, having been unceremoniously dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Swansea.
Liverpool also endured League Cup struggles, before eventually finding a way past Middlesbrough. The Reds sit a point better off than Everton but will be disappointed with their return of three defeats in five Premier League games.
Everton's recent return at Anfield is unimpressive, to put it mildly. The Toffees are without a win in 15 visits (in all competitions), drawing eight and losing seven of those matches, unable to claim a win since 1999—the longest run in their history.
Everton have also failed to score on each of their past three trips across Stanley Park, including last season's comprehensive 4-0 drubbing. They also have just five goals in the 12 most recent games at Anfield.
Here's a look at some of the key factors set to shape this contest.
The Confidence in Both Defences
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Both sides have started the season with a certain amount of inconsistency at the back.
For Everton, veterans Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin have looked significantly short of their best, and both have been culpable for several goals conceded.
The Toffees have shipped an alarming 13 goals in their five games, two more than any other Premier League side and already 33 percent of their entire total from last season. It took 15 games to concede that amount in Roberto Martinez's inaugural campaign.
For Liverpool, eight goals conceded isn't quite as worrying, but it is the fifth-worst total in the division and not a return associated with a Champions League side.
Despite Everton's issues at the back, they have found scoring relatively simple this season, hitting the second-most goals (11) in the English top flight. They are also on a run of seven Premier League games in which they have scored two or more goals and will fancy their chances of troubling Liverpool's back line.
Clearly, the side that finds their defensive resilience stands a much greater chance of success on Saturday.
Everton's Knack of Making Individual Mistakes
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As mentioned, Everton's defending has been unquestionably poor this season. However, in the past few games, individual errors have been the main reason for bad results.
Having played some of the best football of the season during the opening 30 minutes against Crystal Palace, mistakes from Tim Howard and Leon Osman turned a comfortable 1-0 lead into a 3-1 deficit.
Any signs of returning defensive cohesion are currently being undone by individual errors.
The statistics enhance this perception. The Toffees lead the Premier League in both errors (nine) and errors that have led to a goal (five)—already just one behind their overall tally of six from last season, per Squawka.
As a unit, Everton have clearly not defended as well as they can; however, several key players have shown unusual amounts of hesitancy or uncertainty, leading to these costly mistakes.
On the turf of their neighbours and most bitter rivals, such accommodating play would all but guarantee defeat.
Liverpool's Potency in Attack
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Liverpool's relentless attacking surges sustained their title charge right until the end of last season.
The Reds scored 101 goals, compensating for several defensive blips by simply outscoring their opponents. This season, though, things haven't been anywhere near as fluent in the final third.
Luis Suarez's departure and an injury to Daniel Sturridge have left Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert as Brendan Rodgers' attacking options. As of yet, neither has offered the kind of prolific production on display last season.
Dating back to his days at Manchester City, Balotelli is on a barren run of just one goal in his past 19 Premier League games, despite hitting 37 shots at goal during these matches (excluding blocked shots). In stark contrast, during his final 19 games at Liverpool, Suarez netted 12 times.
Brendan Rodgers has already declared Sturridge won't be match fit for the derby, per The Guardian's Andy Hunter, throwing the onus on Balotelli to provide Liverpool's threat.
Everton's Ability to Erase Mental Scars
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Everton's mentality will have a large bearing on this contest. In a lot of recent derbies, especially those during David Moyes' tenure, the Toffees have often appeared a beaten side before the game even began.
Too few players have found top form in such marquee encounters, while the team's cohesion and overall philosophies often unravel in favour of individual desperation.
For Everton to have any hope on Saturday, Martinez must get his players as mentally assured and focused as possible. The Catalan will enforce his style on the opposition, no matter the team, venue or occasion, which makes it essential that any lingering mental scars are healed.
If Everton enforce their generally bold approach without the right blend of belief and conviction, another heavy defeat awaits.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
