Everton host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, so we simulated the derby to predict what could happen
Liverpool and Everton will go head to head at Goodison Park for the final time in the Premier League later today, with lots on the line for both clubs.
Liverpool will be desperate to get back to winning ways after dropping points against Newcastle last time out, with their 3-3 draw against the Magpies reducing their lead at the top of the table. On the other hand, Everton jumped to 15th in the table with a convincing 4-0 win over Wolves midweek, with the Toffees picking up their third clean sheet in the league so far this season.
The last meeting between the Merseyside rivals saw Sean Dyche’s side win 2-0 at Goodison Park, ultimately known as the result that put an end to the Reds’ title hopes last season. The Toffees will be looking for the same again this time round, and there are some big bragging rights also on the line – If Liverpool win, they’ve won more Merseyside derbies than Everton at Goodison Park, and vice-versa.
Alexis Mac Allister will be absent for Arne Slot’s side through suspension after picking up too many yellow cards, while James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are Everton’s only confirmed absentees. So, who will emerge victorious in the 245th Merseyside derby? Let’s take a look…
Everton vs Liverpool score predicted
To complete this simulation, we used EA FC 25 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that the Toffees could set up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Ndiaye, Gueye, Mangala; McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin.
We predict that Liverpool could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their starting XI as follows: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.
In the final league game between the two at Goodison Park, it was the hosts who looked better in the opening stages, with Ashley Young and Vitallii Mykolenko keeping Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah quiet in the early parts of the game. Dyche’s side had a fantastic chance to go ahead just before the break when Joe Gomez was caught in possession by Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the last man, but the striker was wasteful, firing his shot straight at Caoimhin Kelleher when one-on-one.
After a first-half that belonged to Everton, Liverpool sprung into life after the restart, with Goodison holding its breath when Trent Alexander-Arnold’s long-range effort rattled the post. The pressure from the Reds started to mount, and with 11 minutes to go, Slot’s side broke the deadlock.
Andrew Robertson burst forward down the left with the ball, skipping past Young before finding Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge of the box. The midfielder flicked the ball to Darwin Nunez who found Gakpo in a pocket of space, and the Dutchman rifled his shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-0. Everton were unable to muster up a comeback in the late stages, with Liverpool picking up a big win in the Merseyside derby.
