Sam Allardyce has now outlined how Everton can beat Liverpool at Anfield when Sean Dyche takes the Toffees across Stanley Park in the first Merseyside derby this season.
The Reds play host to the Blues this Saturday to resume the Premier League season after the international break. Everton went into the pause in domestic games riding a relatively strong run of form. Dyche oversaw two wins in the Toffees’ last three games to go 16th in the table.
In contrast, Liverpool succumbed to a controversial 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur before drawing with Brighton & Hove Albion. Spurs handed Jurgen Klopp’s team their first defeat of the 2023/24 season. The Anfield outfit had won five of their previous six top-flight fixtures.
Allardyce explains how Everton can beat Liverpool in the Merseyside derby
Liverpool will be increasingly desperate to beat Everton this weekend to avoid losing further ground in the title race. History also does not favour the Blues, having only beaten the Reds once in the last 28 Merseyside derbies. Carlo Ancelotti oversaw a 2-0 win at Anfield in 2021.
Everton have lost the last two Merseyside derbies at Liverpool 2-0, as well. So, former Blues boss Allardyce believes the Toffees will have to be at their absolute best to win on Saturday. Dyche will also require a slice of luck to get the better of Klopp for only the third time so far.
Allardyce told talkSPORT: “Well, I think that there needs to always be a chance for an upset from Sean against Liverpool. I think the big favourites will definitely be Liverpool. I think Liverpool will have to have a slightly under-par day and Everton be on top form.
“Every big chance Everton may make, [they] will need to convert into a goal and defensively, they will have to be at their very, very, very best. So, it’s going to be a great watch.”
Everton can expect chances at Anfield, they just have to make them count
Dyche will hope to secure his third win over Klopp when Everton visit Liverpool on Saturday. The Kettering-born coach has met the German 13 times so far in his career but has lost nine of those matches. Klopp has also beaten Dyche in each of their past four without conceding.
Along with Everton’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield this February, Liverpool beat Dyche’s Burnley with an aggregate scoreline of 6-0 in three games since Klopp lost 1-0 to the Clarets in January 2021. Dyche also got the better of Klopp in their very first meeting way back in August 2016.
Now, Dyche takes an Everton squad potentially fighting to avoid relegation to a title-chasing Liverpool team. The Reds also have one of the best offences having scored 18 times through their eight games this term. Klopp’s defence has further only allowed nine goals this season.
Yet Liverpool have allowed more shots per game (14.4) than Everton have (11.4) this season, per WhoScored. The Toffees have also taken 16.6 shots a game in the Premier League to the Reds’ 16.1. But just 5.5 of Everton’s shots have hit the target, which must change at Anfield.
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