Everton v Liverpool

Saturday February 7 2015, 5:30 PM

Goodison Park

All eyes will be on Merseyside for the late kick-off on Saturday as Everton and Liverpool go head to head in one of the Premier Leagues most fiercely contested derbies.

They say that form goes out the window in these games and Everton fans will be hoping that is true after woeful run of form that has produced just two wins in the last 11 league matches. Roberto Martinez’s men have won just one of their last five home games and sit in 12th place in the Premier League table on 26 points.

Meanwhile, their rivals from across Stanley Park have continued their recent revival. Seven wins in the last 11 league games with just a single defeat have pushed Brendan Rodger’s team back into contention for a top four finish. The Reds are 12 points clear of their neighbours and currently occupy seventh position; just four points shy of fourth-placed Southampton. At the same point last season, the clubs were separated by just a single point and one place in the table with the Anfield side sat in fourth place on 46 points ahead of the Blues.

The head to head form does not bode too well for the Toffees as they have only managed two league wins over Liverpool in the last 20 meetings although they have drawn four out of the last five. In fact, historical results suggest that this fixture has become tighter in recent years with more draws in the last five games than the previous 15 combined. Last year’s 4-0 home win by Liverpool broke a run of 3 consecutive draws which was resumed with a 1-1 draw at Anfield in September.

If we are looking for statistics for this game, the over 2.5 goal figures make the most interesting reading:

• Everton’s home games have produced an average of 3.0 goals per game with a 50/50 split between the Blues and the visiting teams.
• Liverpool’s away games have produced an average of 2.9 goals per game, also with an even split between them and their hosts.
• Home and away games involving both teams have a total average of over 2.5 goals per game (2.8 for Everton and 2.6 for Liverpool).
• 4 of the last 6 Merseyside derbies have finished with more than 2.5 goals

Over 2.5 goals can be backed at 9/10 (1.9) with Bet365.

The last two derbies at Goodison Park have finished 3-3 and 2-2 respectively. If you fancy a repeat, you can back a draw with over 2.5 goals at 12/1 (13) with Betway.