Liverpool vs Everton, Anfield, 8.00pm Premier League 19/01/09

Everton go into the 209th Merseyside derby on great form being unbeaten in 5 Premier League games and 6 overall-winning 5 of them games. One man who has been inspirational in them games has been Mikel Arteta.

The Spaniard has been in great form scoring three goals in Everton’s last two Premier League games, two of which were free-kicks against Sunderland and Hull respectively. Another man who has contributed in his own way has been Marouane Fellaini but unfortunately he will miss out on a derby place due to him collecting his tenth booking of the season last weekend against Hull. Fellaini will now serve a two match ban. Everton have not won a derby since that “famous” 3-0 victory in September 2006. Everton have not won at Anfield since 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored in Everton’s 1-0 victory – ten years ago.

Liverpool come into the game after a 0-0 draw with Stoke, after the Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, made some “remarks” about Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager. Rafael Benitez has also rejected a new contract offer from Liverpool which could unsettle the players. And Steven Gerrard may be forgiven for not focusing fully on the game with his trial for GBH on Friday. There has been quite a lot going on off the pitch at Liverpool these last couple of weeks, and this may unsettle the players.

Team News
Everton have Marouane Fellaini suspended and Yakubu, Vaughan, Saha and Valente are all injured. Segundo Castillo, Victor Anichebe or Jack Rodwell are the likeliest to replace Fellaini. Joeseph Yobo is also a doubt.
Liverpool have Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres back from injury and Alvaro Arbeloa is also expected to return while Daniel Agger has a calf injury and most likely won’t play. Liverpool will have a wide selection of strikers to choose from, unlike Everton.

Expected Line ups

Liverpool
Reina
Arbeloa
Carragher
Skrtel
Aurelio
Alonso
Mascherano
Gerrard
Riera
Kuyt
Torres

Everton
Howard
Hibbert
Jagielka
Yobo
Lescott
Neville
Osman
Arteta
Pienaar
Cahill
Anichebe

Betting
Liverpool 8/13 Draw 13/5 Everton 5/1
Everton 1-0 12/1
Draw 0-0 15/2
Draw 1-1 11/2
Everton 2-1 18/1
Draw/Everton 11/1
Everton/Everton 10/1
Tim Cahill F.G 9/1 L.G 9/1
Mikel Arteta F.G 18/1 L.G 18/1
P.Neville F.G 50/1 L.G 50/1

First player to get sent off:
Gerrard 22/1
Carragher 16/1
Cahill 9/1

My Betting tips:
Cahill last goalscorer 9/1

My Prediction
Liverpool 1-1 Everton- Liverpool to dominate possession, grab an early goal and Everton to snatch a point near the end from a set piece from which Everton look most dangerous doing.

4 Responses »

1. Toffeemax on January 17th, 2009 at 12:47 pm:

   good review mate…COYB 😆

2. The-Truth on January 17th, 2009 at 4:10 pm:

   EVERTON ARE RUBBISH! SIMPLE AS!

3. Paul Lopez on January 17th, 2009 at 4:23 pm:

   O yeah 😉

4. BlueBoy on January 18th, 2009 at 11:40 pm:

   Liverpool fan up there on yet again something else to do with everton! Get a life! 👿