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Aidan Perkins’ best bets for the Merseyside derby include a Liverpool star to score with an Everton player getting carded.
Everton and Liverpool meet at Goodison Park in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby with the two sides in need of maximum points for very different reasons.
Everton remain in relegation trouble despite Sunday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool are fighting for the title at the top alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are set to contend with a hostile atmosphere in midweek but after a difficult fortnight they looked much more like themselves in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Fulham.
It’s unlikely to be straightforward for the visitors but they will expect to do enough to earn a vital win and stay in the title hunt.
Selections
Under 2.5 goals @ 7/5
Cody Gakpo to score anytime @ 7/4
James Tarkowski to be carded @ 13/8
Another tight derby on the cards
Four of the last six Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park have ended goalless and this could well be another tight, tense tussle, considering what’s at stake for both sides.
A lack of goals has often been a theme when these old rivals meet with 11 of the last 15 clashes between the Reds and the Blues featuring under 2.5 goals.
Liverpool are expected to come out on top eventually and are favourites at 2/5 for a vital victory but they may well have to be patient again as Everton attempt to keep it tight and nullify the threat posed by the visitors in the final third.
Everton scored twice to see off Forest – somewhat controversially – on Sunday but that was just the second time in 20 games in all competitions that Sean Dyche’s side have scored more than once.
That underlines the hosts’ goalscoring problems, while Liverpool have also been blunt up front of late with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and others all guilty of missing clear cut chances.
Therefore, the 7/5 available on under 2.5 goals is what appeals most.
Gakpo could be the hero for Reds
Gakpo has had a frustrating campaign as the Dutch forward has more often than not found himself playing a bit-part role, coming off the bench as Klopp has usually favoured Salah, Nunez and Diaz up front.
However, with Salah and Nunez both struggling for their best form and Diogo Jota picking up an untimely injury ahead of the derby, Gakpo is expected to figure in the visitors’ front three at Goodison.
The 24-year-old scored his first goal for Liverpool in the home 2-0 win over Everton last season and looked in good shape against Fulham on Sunday, attempting four shots, with three of them landing on target.
Liverpool will miss natural finisher Jota but Gakpo could step up when they need him in midweek.
Tarkowski to be tested
James Tarkowski has picked up the most bookings in the Everton squad in the league this season, with the centre-back being shown nine yellow cards so far.
With Liverpool’s forward line set up to press when the hosts have the ball at the back, Tarkowski is sure to be tested on Wednesday and he looks good value at 13/8 to pick up a booking in a game in which there are usually plenty of fouls given and cards shown.
Notably, Tarkowski has been in trouble with referees regularly of late, being booked in four consecutive games in the past month against Bournemouth, Newcastle, Burnley and Chelsea.
He may be back in the notebook again as he attempts to contain the likes of Salah and Jota in the derby.