“Can’t see them losing” – Paul Merson would be ‘shocked’ if one thing happens in Merseyside derby | OneFootball

Paul Merson has given his prediction for the Merseyside derby on Sunday, and he’s expecting it to follow the trend which has dominated this particular fixture in recent years.

Liverpool make their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend after the Everton men’s team relocated from Goodison Park last year, with 10 of the final 13 derbies at that venue finishing in a draw.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Whereas the Reds were clear at the top of the Premier League the last time they were away to the Toffees 14 months ago, they currently sit fifth in the table, just five points and three places ahead of their local rivals, who haven’t given up hope of snatching a Champions League place.

What has Merson predicted for Merseyside derby?

Arne Slot’s side have more defeats than victories on the road in the top flight this season, and Merson believes that record will be preserved (if not necessarily extended) by 4pm on Sunday, predicting a 1-1 draw.

In his weekly Premier League predictions column for Sportskeeda, he wrote: ‘For the first time in a long, long time, this is an even game! You can’t really call Liverpool the favourites here. The way Liverpool are playing, you would be shocked if they beat Everton this weekend!

‘Everton come into this game after having won each of their last two [home] games as well. I can’t see them losing the Merseyside derby…something tells me that Everton will get a point.’

Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Liverpool will need a strong away performance to win on Sunday

Not since the 2020/21 season have the two teams been so close to each other in the Premier League table going into a Merseyside derby, and the Toffees’ home form has been notably better than Liverpool’s away record.

The Reds were shaken by their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, too, and Wayne Rooney questioned the motivation levels of Slot’s players in the run-up to this fixture. Opta calculations even give Everton a marginally greater statistical chance of victory.

It’d be inaccurate to describe LFC as underdogs going into this game, but it’d be fair to say that a repeat of the flaccid performances in losing away to Brighton, Manchester City and PSG in the past month would likely be punished to the fullest by David Moyes’ side.

However, if Liverpool reprise the determination levels they showed against the European champions on Tuesday and – crucially – convert the chances they create, they are more than capable of earning a first Merseyside derby away win since December 2021.

It’s a difficult fixture to call, but the opportunity to pull eight points clear of Everton with victory must surely act as a major incentive for the Reds to complete the double over their local rivals this season.