Paul Merson predicts ‘major problems’ for Liverpool in exciting Everton verdict
Everton head to Anfield on Saturday hoping to derail Liverpool’s perfect start to the season.
Everton are unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches, but their arch-rivals have won all four of their games so far.
Alexander Isak may be missing for Liverpool, so David Moyes may be confident that his side can get a result.
Everton have a dismal record at Anfield, but the 20 September contest is the most unpredictable for a long time, as both sides are in great form.
Jack Grealish among Everton’s key men for Liverpool clash
Jack Grealish has been immense for Everton since joining on a season-long loan from Manchester City, but he has not been the only one.
Paul Merson named Grealish as one of the danger men for the Blues against Arne Slot’s side, alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye.
In a column for Sky Sports on 16 September, he said: “For the first time in a long time, Everton play Liverpool and they’ve got weapons. They can take the game to Liverpool.
“I like the combination of Ndiaye, Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall. Three players that can cause major problems.
“Liverpool normally expect Everton to play tight, rest their hopes on a set-play, but Everton can open teams up now. It’ll be a difficult game, there’s no doubt. Everton have players that can hurt teams.”
Everton can end 23-year hoodoo against Liverpool
Moyes has never secured a victory at Anfield in his time managing the Toffees, Manchester United, Sunderland and West Ham.
The clash will be the 23rd time that he has travelled to the Reds’ stadium, and the 45th game that he has managed against them, with just six victories.
- Moyes’ 20 league matches without an Anfield victory is the longest that any manager has gone in the top-flight without a win at the stadium.
- If the Scotsman is to break that streak, he needs the likes of Grealish, Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall to step up and put in the performance of their lives.
- They have been great so far, but this is the real test of their abilities, and it will require a superb performance from all three of the stars that Merson named.
Moyes has done a brilliant job in transforming his Blues side, but the Anfield clash will be a true marker of where they are at.
If they can get a win, it would be a sign that the Toffees can contend for European qualification if they can beat the champions, rather than simply securing a top-half finish.
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