Everton’s Steven Pienaar
Everton and Liverpool will play the first Merseyside derby of the season on Saturday afternoon in what is an eagerly anticipated duel this season. Both teams have made impressive starts to the season and are currently sixth and second respectively, separated by just three points. Roberto Martinez’s first Merseyside derby is likely to be an entertaining fixture as the Toffees are currently one of the league’s best-liked and most attractive sides. Liverpool are further along a similar path with Brendan Rodgers now well into his second season in charge and have been impressive so far this campaign.
Everton have struggled to get results out of derby games over the last few years, regardless of how the two Merseyside clubs have performed going into this fixture. Martinez could be the man to change all that. At Wigan Athletic, he was underrated as a tactician in one-off games, as evidenced by the way he set his team up to overcome opponents on their way to a historic FA Cup last season. Traditionally, Everton finish their seasons well, but last season they went against that pattern and started well and spluttered towards the finishing line. Roberto Martinez seems to have picked up where David Moyes left off and continued the upward trend of starting a season well.
This time around Evertonians feel different about the derby as their team will go out to attack the Reds and test out their defensive frailties when in the past the game has been cagey and all about not getting beaten. The Toffees will not compromise and deviate from their progressive passing style for anybody, maintained Roberto Martinez. The Toffees boss wants his side to stick to their new ideals even against teams which are renowned for their own attacking football. The Toffees struggled to make their expansive style work against the rigidly determined defensive efforts of Crystal Palace last time out, drawing 0-0.
The stalemate in South London meant they went goalless for the second successive game, after also drawing 0-0 with Tottenham. Everton are unbeaten at home this season having won three matches of their five matches. However, they have scored just six goals at home and will need to improve in the final third in this match. On-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will be looking to impact this big derby as the Belgian powerhouse is out to prove himself to Jose Mourinho. He has scored five goals this season and after failing to get on the scoresheet in the last two matches he will be hungry.
Liverpool got their loss at Arsenal out of their system and in fine style when they thrashed Fulham 4-0 last time out. The Reds dominated from start to finish as Suarez scored twice, Martin Skrtel added another and Fulham defender Fernando Amorebieta headed in his own net early on. Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard put in a sublime display of set-piece delivery that helped put the game to bed before half time. The Reds had 32 attempts at goal and enjoyed 68 percent of the possession.
Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have ignited as arguably the league’s finest strike partnership, and the pair will be looking to overwhelm Everton’s defence at Goodison Park. Liverpool’s only away loss came against Arsenal and besides that match they haven’t had trouble finding the back of the net on the road. Suarez is no doubt Liverpool’s standout performer but the return to fitness of Phillipe Coutinho is a major boost.
He was out for almost two months with a shoulder injury, but shouldering the burden of being Liverpool’s bright spark in the midfield is seemingly no problem for Coutinho. He was brilliant against Fulham, with his trademark nimble feet and perfect weight of pass showcased amongst his team’s many other qualities.
Liverpool are unbeaten against Everton in the last seven meetings, with the Reds winning four of those matches. It should be an end to end match but Liverpool’s potent attack should prove superior and the Reds are tipped to get the three points.
