Home SPORTS Can Beto Fire Everton to Victory Against Liverpool?

Can Beto Fire Everton to Victory Against Liverpool?

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Everton will rely on joint top-scorer Beto to lead them to victory against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, as they look to overcome their passing accuracy and battling quality issues.



Liverpool holds a significant advantage as they prepare to face Everton in the upcoming Meresyside derby. The two teams will clash just under two months after their previous encounter at Goodampton Park, which promises to be another intense and closely contested match.




The reverse fixture in February saw both Abdoulayy Doucoure and Curtis Jones receive red cards late in the game, continuing a pattern of intense rivalry between the two teams. In fact, the Meresyside derby has produced more red cards than any other fixture in Premier League history, with an astonishing 25 players being sent off. Furthermore, Everton has received 17 of those red cards against Liverpool, the highest number of red cards one team has received against another in the competition.


With only eight games remaining in the season, Liverpool has the opportunity to solidify their position at the top of the Premier League table with a win against Everton. Three points would put them 12 points ahead of their nearest rivals, Arsenal. On the other hand, a win for Everton could potentially propel them to 13th place, allowing them to leapfrog both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the process.


Recent Dominance at Anfield

Liverpool has a strong record against Everton at Anfield, winning five of the last six meetings. In their last three Premier League home games against Everton, Liverpool has emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline on each occasion. This level of dominance is reminiscent of their performance between 1990 and 1994, when they won five consecutive home league Merseyside derbies.


Everton will be seeking to avoid defeat in both Premier League meetings with Liverpool for the first time since the 2020/21 season. In that season, the first meeting ended in a 2-2 draw at Goodison, while the return fixture saw Everton secure a 2-0 win at Anfield. This defeat was Liverpool's only loss to Everton at Anfield in the last 24 Premier League derby games, with the hosts winning 14 and drawing nine.


The recent form of Everton might suggest that they are draw specialists, with four draws and one win in their last five games, including 13 draws overall in the 2024/25 season. This tendency to share the points is also reflected in the history of Premier League meetings between Everton and Liverpool, with 26 of the 65 games ending in a draw. Only the matchup between Chelsea and Manchester United has finished level more often, with 27 draws.


Liverpool's Scoring Streak

Liverpool's impressive scoring form will pose a significant challenge for Jordan Pickford and Everton's defense. The Reds have scored at least twice in 26 of their 29 Premier League games this season, including their last nine consecutive matches and last 12 consecutive home games at Anfield. If they maintain this form and score at least twice again, they will set a new English top-flight record by scoring two or more goals in 27 of their opening 30 matches.




Everton's Unbeaten Run

Everton supporters can take heart in their team's recent unbeaten run, which has seen them go nine Premier League games without defeat (W4 D5). This is their longest unbeaten streak since December 2013 under Roberto Martinez, when they went 10 games without losing. Additionally, this is Everton's longest unbeaten run going into a league meeting with Liverpool since February 2010.


David Moyes' Record Against Liverpool

David Moyes' record against Liverpool is a concern for Everton, as he has not won any of his 19 Premier League away games against the Reds. This ties him with his own record for the most away games against an opponent without a victory. As Everton manager, Moyes has drawn six of his 11 league visits to Anfield, including his last visit in May 2013, which ended in a 0-0 draw.


Mo Salah's Derby Record

Mohamed Salah is likely to play a significant role in the Merseyside derby, given his impressive record in such matches. The Egyptian forward has been directly involved in eight goals in his last seven Premier League Merseyside derbies, scoring six and assisting two. Salah's performance in this season's reverse fixture, where he scored and assisted, was particularly notable.


Salah's Goal Involvement

Salah's goal and assist in both Premier League matches against Everton this season is a rare achievement. Only Chris Sutton in 1993/94 and Alan Shearer in 1994/95 have accomplished this feat before. With 27 goals and 17 assists this season, Salah is far ahead of his teammates in terms of goal involvement. He may hope that other players, such as Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, will contribute with goals of their own in the upcoming match.


Salah's Importance to Liverpool

Salah's impressive form highlights the significant attacking responsibility he carries for Liverpool. However, his potential departure to the Saudi Pro League or another destination from the 2025/26 season onwards serves as a reminder of the challenges the team may face without him. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has provided six assists this season, will miss the match due to injury, and his potential replacement, Conor Bradley, has only a 25% chance of playing a part in the game.


Everton's Goalscoring Hopes Rest on Beto

Everton will rely heavily on joint top-scorer Beto to lead them to victory, as they face the challenge of overcoming Liverpool at Anfield. Beto, who has scored six goals this season, opened the scoring in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park. With Iliman Ndiaye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out due to injury, the goalscoring burden falls squarely on Beto's shoulders.




Passing Accuracy a Concern for Everton

One area where Everton has struggled this season is with their passing accuracy. While Liverpool is expected to dominate possession, Everton must capitalize on their opportunities by delivering crisp and clean passes. However, their passing statistics have been underwhelming, with only a handful of players achieving a pass completion rate in the 80% range. Most players have completion rates around 70%, while some, including Jordan Pickford and Beto, have dipped below 60%. This lack of passing accuracy will only add to the pressure on Everton, particularly when facing a hostile Anfield crowd.

Battling Qualities Falling Short

Everton's battling qualities, typically a source of pride for the team, have been lacking this season. Only four players in the squad have won 60% or more of their duels with direct opponents. In terms of tackles won, only Idrissa Gueye and James Tarkowski have emerged with the ball more than 30 times. Tarkowski's late equalizer in the reverse fixture was a highlight, and he will be eager to make a similar impact to help secure Everton's Premier League safety.





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