Mark Lawrenson predicts scoreline of Everton clash v Liverpool
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has hailed Everton for their transfer business over the summer and predicts Carlo Ancelotti’s side to secure a point in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park this weekend
In his weekly predictions for BBC Sport, the former Liverpool defender said he thinks a ‘close game’ at Goodison Park will finish 1-1 between the city rivals.
He also praised Everton’s summer recruits and the form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while claiming it will be ‘interesting’ to see how Liverpool respond to last weekend’s defeat to Aston Villa.
He said, “Given how well Everton are doing, Goodison Park would normally have been absolutely rocking for this game – but without any crowd or atmosphere, this won’t feel like any derby game I played in.
“Everton have surprised everyone, I know they have got some very good players but I thought their new signings would take longer to settle in. James Rodriguez looks like a real player and the game looks very easy for him. Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure have done great as well and, now they have got Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring, they look a real handful.
“They are top of the table for a reason and it looks like they are going to give Liverpool a close game.”
Everton will go into Saturday’s game top of the Premier League table, the position where the Reds finished last season as they became champions for the first time in the Premier League era.
But the Toffees may just go into this game as favourites as they look to banish a ten-year derby hoodoo by beating Liverpool at Goodison Park. A derby win would be the biggest achievement in Everton’s outstanding start to the season and would show the rest of the league that Ancelotti’s side are a force to be reckoned with.
A win would keep the Italian’s side at the top of the table and pile further misery on their city rivals following last weekend’s humiliating 7-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, in which ex-Toffee Ross Barkley grabbed himself a goal. A win on Saturday lunchtime would whet the appetite of every Everton fan and top off a brilliant unbeaten start to the season.
In other Everton news, Leon Osman has spoken about how it feels to be part of the last Everton side to beat Liverpool 10 years ago.