Mark Lawrenson is backing Everton and Liverpool to draw 1-1 this evening.
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Everton and Liverpool will draw 1-1 at Goodison Park this evening – but thinks referee Mike Dean could be the key man.
The 227th Merseyside derby is upon us, as Liverpool will be making the short trip across Stanley Park to take on Everton, with both teams coming off the back of victories.
Everton had picked up just two points in five Premier League games as they prepared to take on Arsenal at Goodison Park on Tuesday evening, but they came from a goal down to beat the Gunners 2-1 with a late Ashley Williams winner.
Mark Lawrenson
That victory has given Toffees fans hope that they can beat their local rivals Liverpool, and Ronald Koeman will certainly be hoping to claim a win in his first Merseyside derby.
Visitors Liverpool recovered from a disappointing run of five points in just four games to beat Middlesbrough 3-0 away from home on Wednesday night, and they’re looking for another away win this evening – though it’s a much shorter trip this time.
Managers Koeman and Klopp faced each other three times last season, with Koeman’s Southampton claiming a 1-1 draw at Anfield before beating the Reds 3-2 in their Premier League games, whilst Klopp’s Reds hammered Koeman’s Southampton 6-1 in the League Cup.
Sunderland’s Adnan Januzaj receives a second yellow card and subsequent red card by referee Mike Dean
Klopp also has a win to his name in his only Merseyside derby, as his Liverpool side trashed Everton 4-0 back in April – but former Reds star and current pundit Mark Lawrenson doesn’t see a similar game taking place.
Lawrenson told BBC Sport that his prediction for the game is a 1-1 draw, noting that Goodison Park is a tricky place to go when the crowd is fired up – as Arsenal found last week – and suggested that referee Mike Dean could be the key man, in terms of how he handles the fierce challenges from players in tonight’s derby clash.
“Anyone who has even been to a Merseyside derby under the lights will tell you it is always a fantastic atmosphere in the stands and a bit gladiatorial on the pitch, too,” said Lawrenson. “Liverpool are always quick and close the opposition down. Well, on Monday, you have to feel Everton should do the same. There was a period in their win over Arsenal that Everton got a few big tackles in. That got the whole stadium going and from then on they were up and running.”
“That will happen from the first second, which is why referee Mike Dean could play as big a part as any of the players. I think Dean is a very good referee but he has shown more red cards per game than any other official to be in charge of more than five Premier League matches this season, and how he handles those challenges – from both teams – will be a huge factor.”
“These are always just absolutely mad games and, whoever is top or bottom, form has absolutely no bearing on the outcome. I am going to go with a draw, purely because I don’t know what is going to happen,” he added.
What’s your prediction for Everton v Liverpool?
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