The last-ever Merseyside derby to be staged at Goodison Park takes place on Wednesday night when Liverpool will look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds’ quadruple dreams were ended by Plymouth on Sunday, but they remain well placed to pick up silverware elsewhere, with a Carabao Cup Final date against Newcastle in the diary next month.
BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET
Everton also exited the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage last weekend when Bournemouth halted David Moyes’ momentum with a 2-0 win at the Toffees’ home.
But this promises to be a special night for the home fans with the postponement of the fixture in December meaning the rearranged clash goes ahead under the lights at a venue that will be rocking if Moyes’ men make any headway against Slot’s machine-like Reds.
Everton vs Liverpool betting tips
- Everton to lead at any time – 15/8
- Over 1.5 goals in the first half – 6/4
- Mohamed Salah 1+ Assists – 31/20 boosted to 17/10
- Spotlight Tip: Over 1.5 Goals in the 1st Half, Everton to Score First, Mohamed Salah 1+ Assists – was 18/1 now 20/1
Back the Bluenoses to hit the front
After tasting defeat to Aston Villa in his first game back in charge for a second spell, Moyes appears to have found the right formula for a team that was desperate to be let off the leash.
Everton won three league games in a row, scoring eight and keeping three clean sheets before some of the euphoria was lost in Saturday’s cup reverse to the Cherries.
But the Toffees stuck to their task after falling behind to Bournemouth and had several chances to get on the scoresheet themselves in the second half, hitting the woodwork three times and seeing a further effort cleared off the line.
That augurs well for the challenge they face on Wednesday against an in-form and well-rested Liverpool first XI.
Slot gave his big guns a break at the weekend to prepare for a pivotal few weeks ahead and they deserve to be the overwhelming favourites to take all three points.
But they may be forced to come from behind to claim victory because the Dutchman’s defence has tended to concede the first goal in their last dozen fixtures.
Seven of Liverpool’s last 12 league opponents have held the lead at some stage and two of those teams currently occupy the relegation positions.
Meanwhile, Everton have scored first in their last three Premier League matches and may be able to do so again with a newly-discovered potency since their mid-season managerial change.
Goals again likely when these two meet
Scoring early against Liverpool can be like poking the bear with the Reds often responding with some of their best football.
Four of the last six Premier League clubs to have grabbed a first-half goal against them have ended up shipping at least three goals and another – Fulham – probably would have done if Liverpool had not been down to 10 men for three-quarters of the match.
Everton have made fast starts in their last two home games, going 3-0 up against Tottenham and Leicester before the break.
That pattern is unlikely to continue here, but there should be a decent chance of a couple of goals in the first half.
Four of Liverpool’s last eight away league games have seen over 1.5 goals in the first 45 minutes and it looks like an attractive option to happen again at a chunky odds-against price.
Unselfish Salah is due another assist
Mohamed Salah’s future has been a major discussion point in the last few weeks, with the Egyptian star seemingly on a mission to persuade Liverpool’s board that he is worthy of a lucrative new long-term deal.
Salah has scored 21 goals and assisted 13 more in 23 Premier League games – phenomenal numbers that will only improve before the end of the campaign.
His tally of assists is already equal to his personal Premier League record, while his goal-creating actions are on course to eclipse his best-ever campaign of production – 2021-22.
Thirteen of his 16 goal-creating actions have come from passes and he is probably due to produce another on Wednesday after going five Premier League games without an assist.
The 32-year-old did tee up Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s opener in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg last week, so he has certainly not lost his touch.
BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET Offer
Sign Up Offer: Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
T&Cs: 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org