Anjishnu Roy 11/02/2025 27comments  |  Jump to last

The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park is upon us, and Everton enter the clash against Liverpool with renewed confidence under David Moyes despite saturday's loss in FA Cup.

With three consecutive Premier League victories since Moyes' return in January, the Toffees are aiming to replicate last season's spirited 2-0 win over their city rivals.

Belief is key for Toffees

Jarrad Branthwaite, who scored in that memorable victory last March, emphasized the importance of belief ahead of Wednesday’s showdown.

"It is the Merseyside derby, it is another game that we are looking to win, that's it," Branthwaite stated. "If you build it up too much, you can fall under pressure, so we are going into it with the belief that we can get a result like last season."

Everton have used this mindset effectively in recent weeks, securing wins that have lifted them away from the relegation zone.

Key to this resurgence has been Iliman Ndiaye, who has scored in each of his last three Premier League outings. If he finds the net again, he will become the first Everton player since Richarlison in 2021 to score in four straight league matches.

Liverpool’s Response to FA Cup Exit

Liverpool, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after a shocking FA Cup fourth-round exit to Plymouth Argyle. The loss ended Arne Slot’s hopes of a quadruple in his debut season at Anfield, adding pressure to an already packed fixture list.

With four Premier League matches in 10 days following the derby, Liverpool’s squad depth will be tested. Compounding their concerns, Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez are both likely to miss the Goodison clash after picking up knocks against Plymouth.

Nevertheless, the Reds will have Mohamed Salah back in action. The Egyptian, who was rested for the FA Cup tie, boasts a staggering 21 goal contributions in 12 away league matches this season. Slot will be counting on his talisman to lead Liverpool’s charge.

Historic Stakes and Match Prediction

Liverpool have not lost in their last 19 Premier League matches (14 wins, 5 draws), but history suggests caution. The last two times they have faced Everton while on an unbeaten run of 19+ league games, they lost – in 1978 and 1988.

Furthermore, Liverpool are on the cusp of becoming only the fifth club in English football history to record 100 wins against a single opponent. A victory on Wednesday would see them join an exclusive list alongside Arsenal and Manchester United.

That said, Everton have been in fine form, winning their last three league matches with an 8-2 aggregate score. Moyes has a chance to secure four consecutive league wins for the first time since his West Ham days in 2021, and the Toffees will be eager to use the Goodison crowd as a driving force.

Expect an intense battle

The Merseyside derby has seen the most red cards (23) and the most 0-0 draws (12) in Premier League history. Liverpool have also scored more 90th-minute winners against Everton than any other side has against a single opponent (5).

While Liverpool may be the favorites on paper, Everton’s recent form, combined with the emotional significance of the final Goodison Park derby, could set the stage for another historic night.

One thing is certain – this will be a clash to remember.

 

Reader Comments (27)

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Andrew Ellams
1 Posted 11/02/2025 at 09:32:07
I see Slot is already working on the referee calling out the apparent bias at last season's Goodison game.
Charles Taudin
Editorial Team
2 Posted 11/02/2025 at 10:46:16
#1 Andrew

The way he said it felt like a child complaining about his Christmas gift !

Bob Parrington
3 Posted 12/02/2025 at 05:28:09
Let's just hope Slot misses the slot with his team selection and that we win by slotting a few shots in to their net.
Pete Neilson
4 Posted 12/02/2025 at 15:37:45
There was no “memorable victory last March”, we lost every game that month. The 2-0 derby was April.
Neil Tyrrell
5 Posted 12/02/2025 at 17:52:43
Dirty foul by Van Dyke goes unpunished in first 5 minutes.

Salah awarded his customary penalty.

Ref gives Everton nothing.

And the Blues still prevail in a 3-2 derby for the ages!! COYB 💙

Paul Kossoff
6 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:05:07
What's this, a big up the red shite site? I don't want to know what the dark side have done, especially against us, Jesus, its bad enough having to play them that we have to read about them on an Everton site. I was warned by the previous owners on here about even mentioning the other lot, now we get a build up for them. Not my idea of a derby game preview.
This is a match preview? I'm done in here, Everton site run by Evertonians not by people who really seem to have no idea what these games especially a derby game means, this pre match write up is a joke.
Andrea Jacobs
7 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:20:51
Wow,

The ‘don’t worry these lads will get it right’ brigade. Wake up!

This is the way it is now.

Paul summed it up above.

Not written by anyone with any nuance, wit or understanding of the fixture/rivalry, and this won’t change.

It’s not their fault, you cannot download 30 or 40 plus years of support into someone’s brain, the insight, the feel for the Club, the knowledge and the humour will always be absent.

Lyndon Lyoyd sold up to a global firm, so this is the style of the content now.

So, I think most will stop reading it, because it says nothing.

And, as Paul points out, it’s actually deeply irritatingly well balanced in favour of them.

Strange, soulless, weird, empty.

…‘let’s get behind the new lads and welcome them…blah blah. Fuck off!

This is shite!

Brian Hennessy
8 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:23:35
I have to agree Paul.

The tone of the last paragraph in particular just feels wrong on here.


"The Egyptian, who was rested for the FA Cup tie, boasts a staggering 21 goal contributions in 12 away league matches this season. Slot will be counting on his talisman to lead Liverpool’s charge."

I am willing to give the new owners some time to get settled in but the early signs are not good.

Lynn Maher
9 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:26:24
Omg. This is not an article for Evertonians. I can't even begin to comprehend, why it's on an EVERTON site. Disappointed is an understatement.
Me thinks there needs to be a very steep learning curve for those in charge.
I am already in Goodison Park on this special occasion. I've shown it to a couple of fans. They are not amused!
Paul Smith
10 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:36:12
Who knows maybe the more forgiving and less zealous fans might come out of the woodwork. Doubt it though, they probably avoid fanatical fan sites.
Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:40:29
Lynn (9) Lynn what was the teams arrival like.I presume that’s why you are at Goodison so early!.
Lynn Maher
12 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:44:35
Fantastic Dave, as always. Plenty of singing and blue flares. The atmosphere was just incredible. I smell a bit smokey but a small price to pay!
Paul Kossoff
13 Posted 12/02/2025 at 18:47:47
I've just joined Evertonia Lyndon's new pup. After this post by the new owners I am actually upset to think it's acceptable to Evertonians.
I love T W but not anymore. Grand old team is good also, but this new T W, nope, not for me. I'll be in bits if we lose tonight but I don't think the new owners will feel the same. Coyb 👮👮👮
John Keating
14 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:07:09
Seamus has to remain at Goodison after the summer in a management role
What a star
Paid for that young Aussie lad to come over after his disappointment missing out on the original date
Lee Courtliff
15 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:08:38
This is awful, the entire feel of this site has gone and we may as well be reading a random footy page on social media.
Bill Gall
16 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:09:47
no team news
Kieran Kinsella
17 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:14:44
Bill

same team as last match. Isaac Heath among the subs

Colin Glassar
18 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:16:39
COYFB!!!
Robert Williams
19 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:21:26
PK 6 Rest assured this is not acceptable - we have been sold down the Mersey - the Blue Mersey. And all for a pocket full of dimes!!
Alan J Thompson
20 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:23:11
I take it this is where the match report and teams will be. It has to be quicker than this or perhaps it's to become a weekly site. Not good enough.
Jim Bennings
21 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:32:31
You need to sort yourselves out with a live forum lads, at the moment it's not what the regulars want.

Biggest Merseyside derby at Goodison for many years, well the last ever one, and we can't get involved with it.

Jim Bennings
22 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:47:54
Cheap as fuckin chips that, Mac Allister scoring an header when you've got two giant centre halves
Anthony Jones
23 Posted 12/02/2025 at 19:52:59
The only thing that is certain is that these guys aren't and never will be fans.

Even the BBC match previews come across as more sincere than this generic waffle.

Someone should start a fan forum for ex-Toffeweb posters.

Alan J Thompson
24 Posted 12/02/2025 at 20:30:33
We get off to a good start and while Beto's game leaves something to be desired you can't question his ability to finish. And then for their goal guess who needlessly gives the ball away, Doucoure, and Tarkowski is again not marking anybody or challenging for the ball in our own penalty area. It's time for Doucoure to go and perhaps O'Brien should be moved alongside Branthwaite.

And what is it with this Ref that he doesn't give a yellow to a player that goes in studs up into another's thigh but books the protesting player and then books Gana for far less.

And what is it with Everton players kicking the ground, first Broja and now Ndiaye who's ability to carry the ball is being missed.

Tommy Davis
26 Posted 12/02/2025 at 21:29:56
TARKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Alan J Thompson
27 Posted 12/02/2025 at 21:44:47
When Ndiaye went off it seemed like most of the midfield had gone and while Harrison is not to blame we then seemed to try to play through him alone. I was still fuming at Young coming on as a sub when we were a goal down with 5 minutes left when we got the equalizer for a point from almost the last kick of the game and which was almost spoiled by the undue delay from VAR.

Almost 6AM so back to bed.

Paul Conway
28 Posted 12/02/2025 at 21:55:58
Sorry to sound repetitive, but last week I asked, «  why did Moyes wait to Bring on Alcaraz in the 70th minute.
Instead of replacing Doucoure, well before half time.
This match ( one of the most important, given, we need the points, as we as the bragging rights !), rebelotte! He does the same thing.
Doucoure runs around like a horse that has bolted.
The only difference being, that a horse would trap a bale of hay, way more deftly, tha Doucoure could trap a football.

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