Paul Merson admits his potential shock as he predicts Everton vs Liverpool result
Paul Merson has predicted Everton to come back down to earth under Sean Dyche with defeat in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The new Toffees boss got off to a flyer in his first game in charge, downing league-leaders Arsenal 1-0 at Goodison Park last Saturday (4 February), but despite their rivals being in miserable form in the top flight the Sky Sports pundit says he would be “shocked” if the home side didn’t win.
Merson doesn’t expect Dyche’s players to offer much in attack and has predicted a 2-0 win for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
In his Sportskeeda predictions column Merson said: “I watched Liverpool the other day, and I thought they were better against Wolves than they were against Brighton. If they’d made it 2-1, I think they would’ve got something out of it. Towards the end, however, I was very worried for Liverpool when they had the ball. They just didn’t have the fire in them.
“This is a good game for Liverpool. It’s the Merseyside derby, and the fans will be up for it. Everton will sit back and absorb the pressure. They’re going to work on getting a goal from a set piece. They’ll have ten men behind the ball and one up front.
“I think Liverpool need a calm head with composure and experience. Fabinho hasn’t had the greatest of seasons in the Premier League, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back for this game alongside Thiago and Jordan Henderson. They’ve got experience, and you need seasoned players in a Merseyside derby.
“Liverpool’s defence has been all over the place this season, but Everton aren’t going to have much of a go at them. Liverpool will have to defend their set pieces because that’s what Everton will live on. I’d be shocked if Liverpool fail to win this game.”
Dismissed
Dyche kicked things off with a significant new manager bounce, but the real test will come at Anfield on Monday (13 February).
Despite the constant churn in the dugout at Everton over recent seasons it is not uncommon for incoming coaches to get a win first up.
All the same, Mikel Arteta’s side were flying high when they arrived at Goodison last week and the home side produced an impressive display, winning on merit rather than scraping a lucky one-goal victory, so it could be hasty for Merson to right them off.
An away game in the derby is a different matter, but Klopp is showing the strain after failing to win in the Premier League since the turn of the year so there is certainly an opportunity.
If Dyche can get a result in this game then it will prove that his appointment has every chance of turning things around at a club that was increasingly only heading in one direction under Frank Lampard.
The former manager put up a fight of his own in this fixture last season, and was undone by some choice refereeing, so if the new man can improve on that it will send a message that Everton are on the up again.