Without doubt, the biggest tie of the FA Cup Third Round takes place at Anfield on Friday night as Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby. It’s been less than a month since these two sides last met at Anfield in a game that incensed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after he saw his side concede a controversial late penalty to drop two points and draw 1-1. I’m sure that Klopp will be looking for revenge on Friday night and you’d have to expect that Everton will play a more attacking game than they did the last time these two sides met.
English FA Cup – Friday, January 5th, 2018, 7:55PM – Anfield, Liverpool, England
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Draw Best Odd of: 7/2 at Sky Bet |
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Liverpool
EvertonLiverpool
Liverpool come into this game on a fine run of form which has seen them go unbeaten in their last 16 matches. The Reds come into this game on a run of four wins from their last five matches, but it took a 94th minute goal from Ragnar Klavan to give them all three points last time out against Burnley. New £75m signing Virgil van Dijk is in line to make his debut against Everton, but one man who is expected to leave the club, Philipe Coutinho, could well miss out again. Mohamed Salah started the last game on the bench, but expect Liverpool’s top scorer to be reinstated to the starting line up for this one.
Everton
After a strong start to life as Everton manager, things have tailed off a little for Sam Allardyce in recent weeks and back to back defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester United mean it is now no wins in four games for Everton. The Toffees were never really in the game against Manchester United and remain desperate for a natural goalscorer. One man who appears to be closing in on a move is Turkish striker, Cenk Tosun, with the Besiktas hit man expected on Merseyside this weekend to complete a move.
Talking Points
- Mohamed Salah has netted 23 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
- Liverpool have scored twice as many goals (50) as Everton (25) in the Premier League this season.
- Wayne Rooney converted the controversial late penalty last time these two sides met and the former Manchester United and England captain will be hoping to impress at Anfield again on Friday.
Our Prediction
You never know what is going to happen in a Merseyside derby, but one thing we can expect is that this will be a full blooded game with plenty of meaty challenges flying in. Everton have been pretty poor over the festive period and I’m expecting them to struggle against a strong looking Liverpool side here. Everton can’t play as defensively as they did back at the start of December when these two sides last met and I think that will play into Liverpool’s hands on the counter attack.
Betting Tips (Coral)
Liverpool start this game as big favourites at 2/5, whilst an away win for Everton is priced up at 13/2, with the draw available at 10/3. I think Liverpool win win this game and a decent bet looks to be Liverpool to win and BTTS at 21/10. Liverpool like to start fast in games and so Over 1.5 goals in the First Half at 33/20 also looks like a pretty solid bet to me when you consider how good and bad Liverpool can be at both ends of the pitch.
Over 1.5 Goals in the First Half – 33/20 (Coral)