Pat Nevin makes ‘huge’ admission ahead of Everton showdown v Liverpool
The injury to Andy Robertson was the last thing Liverpool needed heading into the Merseyside Derby against Everton on Saturday (21 October), according to Pat Nevin.
Speaking to BBC Sport on Tuesday (17 October), the pundit said the Reds were “cruising along nicely” before an “outrageously unfair” defeat to Spurs and the draw against Brighton, with the shoulder injury suffered by the Scotland international adding to their recent woes.
He still believes the Toffees are “huge underdogs” ahead of the clash at Anfield, but the former Blues man added that he’s played enough of these games to know that it isn’t a foregone conclusion.
“Liverpool were cruising along nicely until an outrageously unfair defeat by Spurs, with the VAR error and two players red carded to boot,” said Nevin. “They then dropped two points against Brighton, which I watched in a Liverpool pub with a bunch of very excitable Reds before speaking at Liverpool University about my latest book. Some of us have very strange lives.
“Liverpool’s luck didn’t improve when Andy Robertson staggered off in Seville with a dislocated shoulder, the last thing they needed. Even though Everton are at the other end of the league table, they had a hugely heartening 3-0 win against Bournemouth last week.
“The Toffees are still huge underdogs, especially at Anfield, but I played in enough of those derbies to know that though the form may not go fully out of the window, it is sitting precariously on the edge of the sill ready to disappear with the slightest nudge.”
Got to believe
Even though Everton’s record has been pretty poor at Anfield over the years, Sean Dyche and his players simply have to believe that they can go there and get a result.
After a solid start to the season, Liverpool have slipped up a couple of times recently and showed frailties at the back, so the Toffees have to try and find a way to exploit that.
The injury to the vastly experienced Robertson means Konstantinos Tsimikas is likely to be called upon at left-back, presenting the Blues with an opportunity to test him due to his lack of game time this season.
They will, however, still be wary of the Reds’ attacking threats and are likely to approach the game with a bit more of a defensive mindset despite the clean sheet against Bournemouth last time out.
But that victory should have provided the players with more confidence heading into the clash against their city rivals and they’ll be hopeful of coming away with a positive result.
In other Everton news, the club could have been handed a January transfer boost in their bid to sign a player.