Premier League leaders Liverpool need just two more victories to secure a long-awaited title success, with Jurgen Klopp’s side facing a hugely anticipated Merseyside derby in their first fixture of the league’s restart.
Here is all you need to know about Sunday’s clash at Goodison Park:
Form
Everton: WWLDL
Everton were winless in three fixtures prior to the league’s suspension with Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the midst of a difficult run of fixtures, facing Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea consecutively before the break.
Ancelotti’s arrival has largely coincided with an upturn in form for the Merseyside club, though hopes of a late push for Europe have since stalled following the initial new manager bounce.
Key to the club’s success this season has been the form of Domonic Calvert-Lewin, the 23-year-old enjoying the best campaign of his career with 13 Premier League goals for the season so far.
Everton have, however, endured a wretched record in this fixture in recent years, their last league victory over their city rivals coming way back in October 2010.
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Liverpool: WWWLW
An almost flawless league record has seen the league leaders win 27 of their 29 fixtures so far, with Liverpool now on the brink of ending the club’s three decade wait for title success.
Manchester City’s win over Arsenal on Wednesday means the club can’t seal the championship at the home of their neighbours, though two more victories will be enough to crown the Reds champions.
Their phenomenal season had faltered somewhat prior to the season’s suspension, however, with FA Cup and Champions League defeats to Chelsea and Atletico Madrid – alongside that league humbling at Watford – still fresh in the memory.
Such is their advantage at the top the club’s coronation remains inevitable, and Klopp will hope his side can edge ever closer at Goodison Park on Sunday evening.
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Last meeting
Liverpool 1-0 Everton, 5th January 2020 (FA Cup, third round)
Liverpool’s 5-2 thrashing of Everton in the reverse league fixture saw Marco Silva’s reign at Goodison Park come to an end, with replacement Carlo Ancelotti given an almost immediate introduction to the city rivalry with an FA Cup third round meeting.
Jurgen Klopp made nine changes for the encounter – including three debutants – but it mattered little as the Reds extended Everton’s miserable record at Anfield, with local-born academy graduate Curtis Jones scoring a sensational winner to ensure his side’s progress.
The win meant Everton have failed to win a Merseyside derby at Anfield since September 1999.
Predicted Line ups
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Holgate, Digne; Bernard, Davies, Gomes, Sigurdsson; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Mane, Firmino
Who is the referee?
Mike Dean.
How can I watch?
UK and Irish readers can watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event, whilst US supporters can view the clash on NBC.
What time does the Merseyside derby kick off?
19:00 BST.
Odds
Everton – 5/1
Draw – 16/5
Liverpool – 11/20
Read – Premier League refresh: Some of the best stats from the season so far ahead of the restart
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