Only a mile separates the stadiums of Liverpool FC and Everton FC. In terms of sport, things have long been worlds ahead of the Merseyside derby on Saturday (1.30 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de and excerpts in the Sportschau from 6 p.m.) in the Premier League.
When referee Craig Parson kicks off the game at Anfield Road, it will be the 241st duel between the two rivals in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield competitions. The game in Merseyside has electrified people in the city since 1894, and Everton have emerged victorious 67 times. The “Reds” celebrated 96 successes, and there is much to suggest that there will be 97 on Saturday around 3:20 p.m.
Luxury problems in Liverpool
Liverpool, Champions League winners in 2019, stabilized very quickly after the weak previous season and missing out on the premier class. With five wins from eight games and 17 points, the three current top teams Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal FC (both 20) and Manchester City (19) are within striking distance.
Coach Jürgen Klopp currently has the luxury problem of finding a place in his highly staffed offensive department for the Portuguese international Diogo Jota or the Dutch shooting star Cody Gakpo – both of whom were recently missing from the squad in the 2-2 draw against Brighton and Hove.
Game recorded and phones turned off
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott describes the excitement before the city duel as follows: “It’s going to be a massive game. If you can’t look forward to a Merseyside derby then I don’t know what else. It was always a big event. The whole world knows about it!”
Elliott recalls: “Growing up, when I couldn’t watch the derby live because I was playing football myself, I would always record it and make sure all the phones were turned off until I got home.”
Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp is also electrified: “It’s always a very special game, a high-pressure game. But my boys are used to such high-pressure games with the club and the national team, so that won’t be a problem. We’re ready for a big fight with very a lot of physical contact – it will be hard, but we all love this passion.”
Defeat against Luton, win against Bournemouth
The anticipation is just as great at Everton FC, but harder times have long since dawned on the club. Nine times the “Toffees“Masters, they have won the FA Cup five times and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once, but this triumph was 38 years ago. The last time they took part in international business was in the 2017/18 season.
The team is currently in 16th place despite a convincing 3-0 win against Bournemouth before the international break. The team does not seem stable, the week before there was an embarrassing 1-2 home defeat against Luton Town, the relegation candidate’s only three-pointer so far.
Dyche is optimistic
The success against Bournemouth is said to have initiated a change for the better. Coach Sean Dyche spreads optimism ahead of the unequal duel with Liverpool: “We were in a good mood anyway. But the 3-0 win once again confirms to the players and the staff that it pays off if you do your tasks correctly and take advantage of your chances. I’ve always said that we are a unit. Now go “The main thing for me is to stay focused. I don’t want us to get carried away with the situation surrounding the derby. It’s not that easy with all the noise around this game.”