Liverpool vs Everton predicted by pundits as Tim Sherwood goes against Merseyside derby 'nonsense'
Liverpool have been backed to come out on top in the Merseyside derby by a host of pundits, however Tim Sherwood warns of two ways Everton got could produce a shock result.
Hoping to make it three derby home wins on the bounce following 2-0 successes in each of the last two campaigns, Liverpool arrive into the match boosted by the return of five players but expected to be without Andy Robertson, who has been absent from training.
A win even by one goal should be enough to send Jurgen Klopp's men top of the Premier League standings at least for a matter of hours, despite only picking up one point from the two matches preceding the international break.
And Everton will arrive into the fixture full of confidence after winning three of their last four matches, the last of which was a comfortable 3-0 over Bournemouth.
But all factors considered the pundits are leaning in favour of the Reds. In his weekly BBC Sport prediction, Chris Sutton was confident of threepeat of the 2-0 scoreline.
"Everton's overall record against Liverpool is pretty wretched, with one win home or away since 2010, and I can't see much changing this time," the former striker explained.
"I don't think the Reds will run away with it but I've been very impressed by Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister in their midfield, and they have got so many talented attackers. It just feels like they will be too strong for the Toffees.
"Liverpool have beaten Everton by two goals at Anfield in each of the past two seasons, so I am going to go with that same scoreline. I would have gone with a goal for Everton but my daughter is telling me 2-0 again, so I am going to listen to her."
Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman also gave a scoreline, saying the Reds would win 2-1 on his Seaman Says Podcast.
Finally Tottenham Hotspur's former manager Tim Sherwood did not go as far to name an accurate score, instead stressing Liverpool's superior quality will win them the match bar any refereeing decisions or extremely good fortune falling the way of the Blues.
"I mean, seriously, at the moment we’ve had one derby this year and that’s been the Tottenham-Arsenal game," he told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
"I think now, this should not be competitive, this football match. They’ve picked up a little bit more confidence at Everton. Everyone says in these games that form goes out the window – that’s a load of nonsense.
"If Liverpool play well, they’ll win the football match. If everything goes right for Everton, they’ve possibly got a chance, but they’d need the referee to be on their side, they’d need a load of luck for them to get a result.
"That’s the way I see it. It is a mismatch at the moment."
