Everton v Liverpool: Toffees can end dreadful run on Mersey Monday

If you’d have asked us a week ago how we rated Everton’s chances in their upcoming clash with Liverpool, we’d have told you not to waste your money on backing the home side.

But after coming from behind to defeat an Arsenal side that were unbeaten in 14 in the league, you’d argue the Toffees couldn’t be any more prepared for Monday’s meeting.

That win against the Gunners put an end to a dreadful run which had seen Ronald Koeman’s men taste victory just once in their last 11 outings.

And they’ll be looking to put an end to another terrible sequence, while restoring some pride back Merseyside, when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool come to Goodison Park.

A lot has changed since the last time Everton defeated Liverpool in the league. David Moyes was still in charge for starters – he’s since managed three other clubs.

And as for the Reds, Roy Hodgson was still their manager, while Klopp was on his way to leading Borussia Dortmund to their first Bundesliga title in eight years.

A total of 12 games have been played between these two sides since then, and the Toffees have lost five and drawn seven of them.

But if there’s any man who can lead Everton to an overdue win, it’s Koeman.

He did exactly that last season with Southampton, when the Saints defeated Klopp’s men 3-2.

Everton goals have been hard to come by in this fixture in recent years. In fact, they’ve scored just two in their last five outings against their local rivals, while Liverpool have managed 10 in that time.

Things are finally looking up again for the Toffees though this season after a blistering start which saw them pick up 13 points from their opening five games.

And despite their recent blip in which they picked up just seven points from a possible 30, they have managed to maintain their unbeaten record at home. They won’t want to lose that to their bitter rivals.

The visitors will again be without the injured Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho. That leaves a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi, although the latter is thriving under such pressure, netting in each of his last four outings.

He also got his name on the scoresheet in last season’s 4-0 romping of Everton, and is 13/10 to make it five in five at any time on Monday night.

But it’s the Belgium international’s compatriot, Romelu Lukaku, who has caught our eye in the goalscoring market. The 23-year-old already has five goals against the Reds to speak of in his short career, and is 11/2 to open the scoring.

The pair are separated by six places and 11 points in the league, and while a Liverpool win is 19/20, we think there’s definitely some value in the 16/5 on offer for the home side in a game of this magnitude.

Click here for a full list of Everton v Liverpool odds.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing