Liverpool v Everton: David Moyes makes costly blunder
David Moyes has named his Everton side to take on Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
The game is set to be played at Anfield and the Reds go into the contest as favourites as they’re gunning for the Premier League title.
The last game between the two sides was at Goodison Park and it ended 2-2.
Moyes makes glaring error ahead of the Liverpool clash
Moyes already has a dismal record at Anfield with 21 matches without a win, 14 losses, and 36 goals conceded.
The last thing he would’ve wanted was to get the playing eleven wrong, but it seems like he’s made an error by not starting Iliman Ndiaye.
The Senegal international is arguably the Toffees’ most lethal attacking threat and should’ve been in the playing eleven.
Liverpool, despite recent setbacks including a Champions League exit to PSG and a Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle, remain a formidable force at home, driven by a desire to regain momentum under Arne Slot.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
| 15. Everton | 29 | 7 | 13 | 9 | -4 | 34 |
| 16. West Ham | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | -17 | 34 |
| 17. Wolves | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | -17 | 29 |
| 18. Ipswich | 29 | 3 | 8 | 18 | -34 | 17 |
The Reds’ squad boasts superior depth and quality, even with injuries to key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.
Ndiaye returns to the bench but Dwight McNeil, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Orel Mangala are sidelined.
Everton need to remain compact and make things difficult for Slots’ side
Moyes’ historical approach, as seen in past games, focuses on disrupting the opposition’s rhythm rather than creating chances, evident in Everton’s earlier 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
To get something from this game, Moyes could deploy a compact, low-block defence to frustrate Liverpool’s build-up play, targeting their vulnerability in midfield by crowding out players like Gravenberch, as he did successfully earlier this season.
He might also rely on set-pieces, leveraging James Tarkowski’s aerial threat, as demonstrated by his late equaliser in the previous derby.
A counter-attacking strategy, exploiting Liverpool’s defensive absences with pacey wingers, could be another avenue, though Everton’s lack of clinical finishing might hinder this plan.
Moyes’ pragmatic tactics will aim for a draw, but overcoming Anfield’s hostile atmosphere and Liverpool’s quality remains a tall order.