Gabriel Agbonlahor predicts ‘tight, tight game’ in Everton v Liverpool Merseyside Derby clash
Gabriel Agbonlahor is predicting a “tight, tight” Merseyside Derby clash between Everton and Liverpool tonight at Anfield, he told talkSPORT.
The Blues earned their first win since October in Sean Dyche’s first game as manager last weekend when they beat Arsenal 1-0, and could move out of the relegation zone with a win over their fiercest rivals on Monday night (13 February).
With Liverpool struggling recently to get results consistently and without a win in the league in 2023, Agbonlahor believes Everton will be “stubborn” and make it difficult but ultimately backed the home team to get the win on the night.
“I think this is going to all come down to if Liverpool’s defenders can put in a performance,” he said.
“If they do I think Liverpool win. If they don’t I think Everton could surprise them with a win.
“But I do think at home, with the Kop at their side, they need to bounce back, owe the fans a result. I think Liverpool will be up for this game.
“I think they’ll have too much for Everton who will be stubborn. So I’m going to go 1-0 to Liverpool in a tight, tight game.”
Don’t lose
This is undoubtedly the biggest Merseyside derby for Everton in recent years, with so much riding on it for us from a positive result.
Fans will be far more confident for this game than they were a week ago, but Dyche has breathed new life into this side and the performance we saw against Arsenal must become the norm now.
Winning the game will be hugely difficult and all three points would be hugely positive, but realistically if we can secure a draw at Anfield it would be massively successful too.
They’re not playing well, have nothing really to play for at the moment with their form so poor and this is a great opportunity for us to string some momentum together and climb out of the relegation zone.
If we can avoid defeat then it would be a brilliant result, and this team has shown that it can be stubborn enough to do it, so now we have to get behind them and perform again.