English Premier League Soccer - Everton vs. Liverpool, 6/21/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds
With the Premier League title being just two wins away, 1st-placed Liverpool will try to collect all three points during their Merseyside derby against 12th-placed Everton, who are winless in their last three games. Kick-off - at 14:00 PM ET on Sunday, June 21.
Everton Thrive Under Ancelotti
The start of the current season turned out quite rough for Everton, who managed to bank just four victories in their first 15 games in the league (W4 D2 L9), dropping as low as to the relegation-bound 18th-place in the standings. A managerial change at the start of December, which ultimately resulted in head coach Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich) joining the team just before Christmas, did a world of good for the Toffees. They lost just once in their subsequent 11 EPL contests (W6 D4 L1), only to enter the enforced coronavirus break on the back of a three-game winless run (D1 L2), with a 1-1 home draw versus Manchester United sandwiched in between road defeats at Arsenal (3-2) and Chelsea (4-0). Everton is 12th in the league with a W10 D7 L12 record.
English forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brazilian dazzler Richarlison lead the Toffees with 13 and 10 league markers respectively. Goalie Jordan Pickford, meanwhile, sits 13th in the Premier League with 75 saves. He has registered six clean sheets in 29 games this year and allows a goal every 57 minutes on average. Everton have buried the 10th highest quantity of goals so far this season (37), while taking the 6th highest number of shots per game (13.3). The team is 10th in ball possession (49.4%) and 12th in passing accuracy (77.4%).
Liverpool Edge Closer To Title
The first England’s top-flight title since 1990 is almost guaranteed for Liverpool. Branding a W27 D1 L1 record in the league, the Reds need just two victories to win their first division trophy of the Premier League era and could be crowned champions as early as on Monday, providing Manchester City lose to Burnley after Liverpool have already beaten Everton on Sunday. The last few games, though, have been quite stressful for the Merseyside club, which has lost four of its past six contests in all competitions (W2 L4), including the 3-2 overtime defeat against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League Last 16 matchup, which actually finished 1-0 to the Reds following the first 90 minutes. In just less than two weeks prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Liverpool got eliminated from the Champions League, the FA Cup, and ended an 18-game winning streak in the Premier League, failing to set a new record for consecutive triumphs.
Egyptian wizard Mohamed Salah and Senegalese maestro Sadio Mane head Liverpool’s scoring table with 16 and 14 league markers respectively. Goalie Alisson, meanwhile, has picked up 45 saves this season, sitting 20th in Premier League’s goalkeeper chart. He has recorded 10 clean sheets in 20 appearances this year and allows a goal every 158 minutes of play. Liverpool has netted the 2nd highest quantity of goals during the ongoing campaign (66) while delivering the 3rd highest amount of shots per game (15.6). The team is 2nd in ball possession (59.0%) and 3rd in passing accuracy (83.9%).
Prediction
Liverpool have not lost to Everton for 21 games in a row in all competitions (W11 D10) since dropping a 2-0 decision at Goodison Park in October 2010. Having said that, the Toffees have lost just one of their past seven home contests versus the Reds, drawing the remaining six (D6 L1). Another stalemate definitely remains a strong possibility here. Everton have been solid under new boss Carlo Ancelotti and will not want to see their Merseyside rivals earn all three points to edge closer to their first league title in 30 years. Liverpool's dodgy form ahead of the coronavirus lockdown, meanwhile, raised some unwanted questions, which still remain unanswered ahead of the team’s first game in more than three months.
Best bet:
Draw (+325)
