Everton vs Liverpool: Desperately seeking something
Everton meet Liverpool with both sides scrabbling for form, both sides only have a win or two each in the last couple of months. With precious few form pointers and a number of players absent the only sensible prediction in derby games is a score draw.
Everton's injury riddled season continues with Jack Rodwell and Louis Saha - two of the undoubted stars of their season - now doubts after picking up knocks against Hull; when added to the existing injury list of Osman, Anichebe, Arteta, Jagielka, Neville and Vaughan it is clear that Everton are severely under-strength. On the plus side Marouane Fellaini and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov return from suspension.
Derby matches are notoriously fickle, but Everton's form is currently dire. In late September Everton strung together five straight wins (AEK Athens 4-0, Blackburn 3-0, Hull 4-0, Portsmouth 1-0 and BATE Borisov 2-1) - but subsequently have one win in ten. A top four finish is probably beyond Everton now so a measure of success would be progress in Europe and some local honours - starting today.
Everton last 5 league games LXWLL
Bolton (a) 2-3
Aston Villa (h) 1-1
West Ham (a) 2-1
Man Utd (a) 0-3
Hull (a) 2-3
Liverpool are on a remarkably similar run of form to Everton. Six straight wins in September (Bolton 3-2, Burnley 4-0, Debrecen 1-0, West Ham 3-2, Leeds 1-0 and Hull 6-1) followed by two wins in eleven games. Liverpool are suffering from a lot fewer injuries than Everton with Torres facing a late fitness test only the left winger position is a problem with a variety of injuries to Riera, Benayoun and Babel.
Every run of good form or bad form must end and the feeling persists that as soon as Torres regains form and fitness Liverpool will become a force in the division again; but without him Liverpool have become difficult to predict.
Liverpool last 5 league games LWLXX
Sunderland (a) 0-1
Man Utd (h) 2-0
Fulham (a) 1-3
Birmingham (h) 2-2
Man City (h) 2-2
Everton vs Liverpool; Kick Off 1:30pm 29 Nov 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : 2 - 2
Chris Cox : 2 - 1
Graham Enwright : 2 - 3
Sue Gardener : 2 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 2 - 3
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 2
Dan Taylor : 1 - 0
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : 1 - 3
Mark Williams : 1 - 2
Panel Verdict
The panel is totally divided here and on balance reckons a 2-2 draw to be the most likely outcome.
Home: 6; Draw: 5; Away: 6; TBC: 3.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
