The two Merseyside teams go into Sunday's derby experiencing two wildly contrasting situations.
TV Info - Broadcasters
Fresh off a 4-0 defeat of Manchester United, Liverpool are still very much in the hunt for a unique quadruple, while Everton are fighting a very different battle – for their status as a Premier League ever-present.
With so much on the line for both teams, this could prove a fiery encounter, which would not be out of the ordinary for the fixture with 22 red cards in the Premier League era, the most of any in the competition's history.
It has not been a comfortable ride for Frank Lampard as Everton manager. Since his arrival in late January, his team have picked up only 10 points, a total superior only to Watford, with eight, and Norwich City, with five.
Everton won this fixture 2-0 last season, ending a 20-match winless away run against in the Premier League, and grabbing their first win at Anfield since 1999.
But that was against a Jurgen Klopp side in the throes of a centre-back injury crisis. This time around, history will struggle to repeat itself. Here are the reasons why:
Fortress Anfield
Liverpool have been imperious at Anfield this season. They remain the only team unbeaten at home in the Premier League and have picked up more home points than any other side.
Conversely, Everton have had little joy on their travels. They have won fewer away points than any other side in the top flight this campaign, with just six in total. To emphasise their recent away form, five of those six points came in their opening four away matches.
Everton have lost 10 of their last 11 PL road trips, including each of the last six in a row. They are in the midst of their longest run of consecutive away defeats since a run of eight between April and October 1994.
Liverpool’s corner threat
Liverpool have the quality to outclass Everton in practically all facets of the game, but one area to pay particularly close attention to is at set-pieces.
Aided by vicious deliveries from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, Liverpool have scored more goals from corners than any other side in the league this season.
Goals scored/conceded from corners
| Team | Goals scored | Team | Goals conceded |
| LIV | 12 | LEI | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCI | 11 | EVE | 10 |
| WHU | 10 | CRY | 10 |
| CHE | 8 | SOU | 9 |
| AVL | 8 | LEE | 9 |
| ARS | 8 | NOR | 9 |
They are likely to place extra emphasis on this area of the game on Sunday given Everton's weakness at defending corners. Only Leicester City, with 13 goals conceded, have let in more often from these situations in the league this season.
Ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Villarreal, Klopp may look to rotate.
Ibrahima Konate could be one of the players to come into the side. The central defender has been a huge aerial threat in oppositions boxes recently, with three headed goals in his last three outings.
Everton's hopes for Richarlison
With relegation rivals Burnley winning on Thursday night, the importance of Richarlison's stoppage-time equaliser against Leicester in midweek cannot be understated. Indeed it kept Everton out of the bottom three.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still out with injury, Everton will once again look to their Brazilian forward to provide quality at the top end of the pitch.
Everton's leading threats
| Player | P | Goals | xG | xG/90 | Shots/90 |
| Richarlison | 24 | 7 | 7.46 | 0.34 | 2.4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray | 27 | 5 | 4.91 | 0.23 | 2.5 |
| Gordon | 28 | 4 | 3.13 | 0.16 | 1.8 |
| Calvert-Lewin | 13 | 3 | 5.76 | 0.52 | 2.6 |
| Townsend | 21 | 3 | 2.45 | 0.15 | 1.3 |
It has not been a vintage season for Richarlison by his standards, but he is the Blues' top scorer with seven goals.
His equaliser against Leicester was his 50th for the club in all competitions, and he has been their most reliable source of attacking output.
Over the course of the season Richarlison has averaged 0.34 expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes, the second-highest figure for Everton behind Calvert-Lewin's 0.52xG.
This is a solid figure – we would expect him to score a goal every three games on average – and rates close to forwards at other clubs in the lower half of the table, such as Teemu Pukki, Ollie Watkins, and Che Adams. His last few matches have givens the impression he is looking to end the season strongly.
Anfield trip a free-hit?
After Sunday's derby Everton will be viewing their fixtures against Watford, Brentford and Crystal Palace as must-wins.
The trip to Anfield could be viewed as a free-hit, which might give Lampard's side the freedom they need to get something out of this demanding cross-city contest.
Everton's run-in
Ollie Hopkins writes for theanalyst.com
