This Saturday, Goodison Park becomes the battleground for the 245th Merseyside derby, where Everton and Liverpool will face off in the Premier League.

This match holds special significance as it will be the final derby played at Goodison before Everton relocate to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season. For Everton fans, the emotional weight of this fixture rivals only the final home game of the season against Southampton in May. It marks the end of an era for the “Grand Old Lady” as the home of some of English football’s most iconic clashes. The mood among Everton supporters has improved significantly after a much-needed win in midweek. A dominant 4-0 victory over relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers ended a five-game winless streak and a four-match goal drought.The result eased mounting pressure on manager Sean Dyche, who had faced growing discontent from fans. Those three points lifted Everton to 15th place, five points clear of the relegation zone, after briefly falling behind Crystal Palace and Leicester City earlier in the week. Given the difficult run of fixtures ahead—including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City—the win was crucial. Everton will aim to secure back-to-back league victories for the first time since April, when they also defeated Liverpool at Goodison.

However, history is not on their side. The last time Everton won two consecutive derbies against Liverpool was during the 1984-85 season when they were crowned league champions. Everton’s record against top teams in general is grim, with just four wins in 47 Premier League games against teams currently leading the standings. Liverpool, in particular, have proven a daunting challenge, with the Reds winning 48 of their 54 league meetings since 2000. The 1-0 loss in April came as a surprise for Liverpool and ended their 12-game unbeaten run at Goodison. However, new manager Arne Slot has a chance to improve on Jurgen Klopp’s record at Everton, which included just two wins in eight visits. Liverpool’s record in early Saturday kickoffs offers some encouragement. Despite ongoing criticism of their frequent 12:30 PM starts, they remain unbeaten in eight such matches, with six wins. A win in this high-profile clash would increase the pressure on Liverpool’s title rivals. Conversely, any dropped points would give the chasing pack a boost.

Liverpool dropped two points midweek in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Newcastle United, with Caoimhin Kelleher’s late mistake gifting Fabian Schär a stoppage-time equalizer. It was only the third time in 21 games under Slot that Liverpool failed to win. Defensive lapses have become a concern despite Liverpool boasting the best defensive record in the league. Wednesday marked the fourth consecutive away game in which they conceded at least two goals. For Everton, Armando Broja made his debut late in the Wolves match and showed promise, creating two chances that Jack Harrison failed to convert. Broja’s return increases competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who reclaimed his spot from Beto midweek and played a role in both own goals by Craig Dawson. Youssef Chermiti remains a week or two away from returning to action, while James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are racing to recover in time for the demanding winter schedule. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain without Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley, whose absence was felt midweek. Joe Gomez struggled defensively, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold back in contention, Jarrell Quansah may partner Virgil van Dijk. Goalkeeper Alisson is nearing a return but may not be rushed back despite Kelleher’s error. Slot may reconsider, however, given the magnitude of this fixture. Alexis Mac Allister is suspended after receiving a yellow card at Newcastle, while Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are unlikely to feature. All eyes will once again be on Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian surpassed Erling Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts with his brace midweek and overtook Wayne Rooney for the most games with a goal and assist (37) in Premier League history.

Everton’s emphatic midweek win has lifted spirits, but their derby record against Liverpool remains bleak. With just six wins in 54 meetings since 2000, history heavily favors the visitors. Even when Liverpool have not been at their best, they have often managed to outclass Everton. Despite a slip-up on Wednesday, the Reds are deserved favorites for this iconic encounter.

Best Tip: Liverpool to win

Correct score: 0-3