Liverpool vs Everton

It’s high time we left Anfield with a bloody good feeling and celebrated like it was 1999 again.

And damn right it will be a tough match... for the Shite

Thinking I might be mistaken, I played it back again - and confirmed my first impression. He uses the word 'Liverpool' once in the whole 10-minute interview, but only in reference to the city at the start.

He uses the impersonal 'they' and 'them', but turns around all questions about 'them' into what he wants and expects from his Everton – always! – not just in one-off big games.

He had a clear opportunity to 'name' them when referring to this season's games with Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea, but when he could have said 'Liverpool', he used 'our opponent' on Sunday.

Marco the man is cool and confident and NOT focussing on 'them'.

Let's hope what he exudes in the presser has been picked up by the squad this week.

It impressed me.

They will be under great pressure; after the PSG result, a bad one here could see their ambitions for the season go under. To win, we have to get at them, press their midfield hard, and keep their fullbacks occupied.

Silva impresses more and more.

I can't fucking wait for this game.

Also, if their full-backs go forward, we will have space out wide to take advantage. This game will suit us. We can do it.

In Rocky IV, Drago famously told Apollo Creed "you will lose" before his first fight.

As Drago, Dolph went toe-to-toe in the ring with Sylvester Stallone – who later adopted Everton as his English team – and it turns out Lundgren is also a Toffees fan.

Lundgren, who was a goalkeeper as a boy, explained: "Everton were my team back in the day – this was a long time ago in the late 1970s when I lived in Sweden and before I moved to the United States aged 17.

He is fully professional and focussed on what his team must do – playing down this Sunday's fixture as ‘just another big match' will keep our players focussed on what they need to do to.

I love it!

The more I hear from Marco Silva, the more I love the guy. He just seems to get it – and echoes of the 'School of Science' right there in that comment.

This is the first Anfield derby for years that I'm not dreading a proper drubbing. I even asked a RS supporter in our local pub this evening to give me beer-bet odds on the result. He wouldn't do it. But did conclude with 'Yeah, but you'll never win at Anfield'.

I really can't wait to remind him of that. In all honesty, it's an outside shot but, if we can boss midfield, I do think there's genuine hope for Sunday.

2-1 to the Blues.

The only cause for concern is that we aren't exactly flying underneath the radar – Klopp spent much of his press conference gushing about how much better we are and how his team is in for a fight. Mind games.

Honestly, when you compare the two sides on paper, we're not *that* far off. Liverpool has more firepower, but we have a more complete midfield. I feel like the biggest difference is that Klopp has had a few seasons to mold the team and implement his philosophies... basically what Silva is in the process of doing.

The Walcott - Coleman combo keeps confusing me, with the problems they have! Is it that the two of them need to work out game play in more detail? I seem to remember Walcott and Kenny worked very well together, but that may have been Walcott focusing more on tracking back to cover Kenny since he was a rookie...

I've been here far too many times, at my age I try not to get angry and upset but this match brings the caveman out in me.

They will dive, whinge and cheat there way through the match. The ref will favour them as they always do and I will blow a fucking gasket, as I always do.

Best I go for a long walk with the dog, or go fishing until the bastards have cheated their way to another derby win.

YOY it's incredible how we had to bear the stench for over a half season of Allardyce, but it's incredible the way M&M, have turned the club around.

I'm more wary of the RS, than Old Nick, such is their demeaned. So many times in the past, we've had better form, had an off day, not turned up and lost, we've battered them and still lost.

For me, this Sunday, we forget the past and play this game and do what we done at Chelsea, but we must stick the chances away. For me, Walcott is a 1:10 converter of chances, and in this game we must be ruthless.

I'm sure they'll be diving for everything and Van Dijk will be a danger at set-pieces but also be mauling Charlie and go, but I see Bernard as the man with the guile and key to unlock them, and another one to watch will be Milner.

Overall, if we can keep our heads, I see us doing the business and getting the win we want more than any other. Forget the media and the hype, MS will have them set and focused this weekend.

The RS have already gone muted since PSG, the other night. Let's make this the start of a new dawn for EFC.

Let's go to our old ground and beat them and illuminate Chrimbo with some class and quality. But just to win and yep take a draw but the win would be great.

It could be a very good weekend for Evertonians.

People who sit and say that this game is only worth three points — it isn't; it's worth far more than three points, always has and always will.

Too many times in the last 15 or more years we have seen Everton players simply not up for this game and not look hurt or humiliated enough to walk out of Anfield with a loss.

No Everton player should ever accept losing at Anfield and, on Sunday, every one of them should be wanting to make themselves a hero and put their own name in Merseyside derby folklore.

So far then, the players have faced these 'big' teams with anything but fear. Though we are utterly jinxed against the RS, I'd not expect as meek a surrender as before. God, we could do with a break.

Will it matter?

Given our record since 2000, which has featured numerous teams with scousers, then I'd probably say it doesn't really matter.

It's one thing having locals in the side but, unless they are good enough, then it's not a massive factor.

Dolph Lundgren — you legend!

We've managed 1 point from playing Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea away. To come: Liverpool, Man City and Spurs.

I would invite ToffeeWebers to estimate what they believe will be our total points tally against these 6 teams away from home? I predict, optimistically, a total of 2 out of a possible 18.

Please don't get carried away about a few home victories against some of the poorest teams in the Premier League. Reality check please!

Probably for the best. Too many times our local lads have either lost their heads or just bottled it in this game. Anyway, once they pull on the shirt they are all honorary scousers!

2-2 draw.

Their front line is frightening. I think they're solid at the back to be sure.

Their weakness is midfield. As others have pointed out, Gilfy, Gueye, and Gomes have to play out of their skins.

My big ray of hope is that I truly believe our three midfielders are capable of just that – playing out of their skins. I hope Gueye isn't yellow-carded early. He's been much, much more disciplined under Silva.

For the first time in a very long time, I'm exceedingly excited about this game. I think "Captain Caps" is going into overdrive on the Live Forum, as I'll be sporting a heartbeat of about 180/120, and enough adrenaline pumping through me to kill a small animal.

We have a real chance to topple them. And I'd be so, so, so very happy for all of you. Especially the "local" posters on this site who so desperately deserve a win at Mordor.

Saddle up. Let's do this. Three points, Marco, you can do this m'man.

I find that a bit odd, but who am I to tell Mike how to dress?

He's expecting a win. And he'll be kidnapped after the game and taken to the dark Gimp basement.

We don't lose when Mike is in the house.

Good luck, Mike! We're all counting on you!

Come on blues – believe; this our moment.

With two draws when in charge at Hull and Watford, he will think Christmas has come early in charge of our talented squad.

We are Everton and we're coming to get you!

But you are right: he has much more talent available to him now although they have improved also.

I lived in New Zealand in the '70s when the All Blacks were invincible. England were their opponents, it was bitterly cold in Dunedin. They sent us out on the pitch 10 minutes before the start with the locals screaming in full voice, then they came out of a nice warm dressing-room, had a warm-up. National Anthems – then the Haka... needless to say, we were blown away and the game was lost.

This is a very similar situation we will face tomorrow at the pit. We will be standing in the tunnel having to listen to YNWA and the nerves jangling. We should play Z-Cars in the dressing room before we go into the tunnel so we are all fired up! COYB

I think it'll be a draw and we'll be unlucky.

We will go there looking for a win and that is what's different this time. It's a football game so multiple things may happen that could go in our favour or against us. We won't know until the final whistle. I do know one thing, though: we won't feel like they haven't given them a proper match.

If we win, Mike Gaynes should be paid an annual salary by the club to attend every game for the rest of the season.

They will tire after 60 minutes after playing midweek which will play into our hands if we turn up like I think Marco will. Then I see nothing more than victory. 2-1.... 3-1 to The Blues. I think normally adrenaline makes me say this but it's a different feeling this time to me. COYB

I won't be able to watch it, as I can't be seen swearing like a trooper in front of my 3-year-old.

I posted on another thread that the big difference will be that tactically Silva is by far also better than Klopp. If their Plan A (the front 3) doesn't work, he doesn't seem to have a Plan B.

Marko has Plans A, B and C. We're playing better away from home... if we can go to Chelsea and take a deserved point, we can go to their place and take 3...

I always hate facing them, especially away from home, but this time (even though the nerves are still there because it's a derby) it feels totally different. For me, it's a 2-1 win to us.

I do think at long last, we have the personnel on the previous showings to buck the trend of past derbies at Anfield. Maybe a win is expecting too much, but I think anything less than a draw will be a disappointment.

Slightly digressing but I had the privilege of meeting several TWers, and above all Mike Gaynes, who has come over for the match from The States. What a lovely guy!

It was a good experience to meet the actual people behind the names we all take for granted as regular contributors.

I remember when I was a kid, the when Cadamateri was tugged so hard by the collar in the area, but nothing came of it.

I remember Don Hutchinson's disallowed goal on the final whistle.

I remember Gary McCallister taking a free kick 20 yards further afield and scoring in injury time.

I remember Lescott being rugby tackled by Carragher and once again, nothing coming.

The decisions always go in their favour, if there was no bias, it would not have been such a long time without a win, but now is the time to change history.

A win on Sunday really could be a catalyst to greater things, it could give us the confidence to go to other top-6 teams knowing we can win.

We player well at a very good Arsenal, and were unluckly. We should have won at Man Utd, but they fluked it. We matched Chelsea. Now to beat the media darlings.

The only fans who regard Liverpool as a top club are their own deluded fans (the "it's our year" brigade)... and us! I have always gone into every derby expected to beat them as they are average, only to be disappointed by the latest loss of bottle.

As for the "bitter blues" bollocks, I reminded my cousin as he tried to blame Neymar, Ramos blah blah blah that the biggest bunch of whingers and excuse makers in Britain sit in Mordor. So let's get over this inferiority complex as they don't merit our lack of confidence. COYB!

We have a punchers chance Sunday. I for one want to see Silva surprise them.

They are weakest, if that's the term, at right-back, I'd play Richarlison there and keep him away from Van Dijk, more likely to track back too. Despite his questionable performances of late, I'd play Walcott through the middle, his pace and stature could yield a direct chance on the counter.

Lookman on the right to complete the troika, he will get more out of Coleman than Walcott.

We should be confident and stay in the game. Beyond 60 minutes, their midweek sojourn will begin to tell.

Got some good vibes going this weekend. 2-0 the Ev.

If we do somehow win, I'll be missing out but just can't bear to watch just in case it's the same old result.

Those fans that go to Anfield to support us are legends or gluttons for punishment, dunno how they do it year-in & year-out. It's too depressing.

Good luck to the lads and all that but I doubt we'll get anything out of this game. Bollocks to derbies, I wish we could just scrap them and give each side a point without playing.

If they try to intimidate we need to match them. And we need to show improvement at set pieces. We are very capable of nicking a goal or two.

Regardless of the result we need to see consistency and assertion. Winning is not everything at this stage but continuing on from Chelsea is.

"I think Everton are one of those teams who probably don't like coming here. I'm sure they will be a bit intimidated, but we still have to recognise that it will be a tough test and we need to focus on it."

Let's have a go and hope they are naive enough to let Gomes run the show – COYB!

It can happen, and with the glorious blue light from the Royal Liver Building blinding the liver birds on their mucky red shirts, and turning them blue, hopefully it will.

Win, lose, or draw – we will be proud of our team on Sunday; we are moving forward again.

I just hope that we are still in the game after 25 mins so that we can start playing our game. Man City went there and stifled them by keeping possession and slowing the game down from the start; we need to do the same.

I would rest Bernard for this one, bring Lookman in and play Richarlison on the left with Walcott down the centre – his pace will test their centre-backs.

Shame about the 'no Scouser' stat but I think that is a sign of how the Premier League has developed rather than a poor reflection on the club. The next one will be no English players in the teams.

We are a different proposition than last season with more of a threat but these are no mugs and have a serious chance of winning the Premier League title this season. Taking a couple of points off them would be a victory in my book.

Coyb

Our squad now is in the same ball park as Liverpool's squad. There are plenty of players we have that they would love to have in their team or on their books. We can match them and, with a bit of luck, win.

The home factor will come into play and the ability of the referees to handle the crowd's influence on their decisions will be a factor to watch.

If Silva can instil the confidence and belief into our lads that matches what Klopp will be preaching to his players, we will go toe to toe. For far too long, we have turned up to these matches already half-defeated. On Sunday, I will expect a different mindset, one in fitting with our new management set-up and fantastic squad of players.

COYB! We have the quality, we can do it!

We never win there.

It will happen one day.

That day might be tomorrow.

It's the hope that kills you.

Tomorrow, we start to show some mettle and fuck the ref – whoever he is!

While I think our midfield has more talent than theirs, I still think their back 4 and front 3 are better than ours. So we will have to be at our best to get anything from this game and there will have to be a marked improvement in both Walcott and Bernard if they both play, because their previous 3 games they have been virtually anonymous.

I would love to see Lookman start as I think the way he likes to come in from the wide position and runs at teams would worry Liverpool. But we know that Marco will send his team out to play on the front foot and will look to take the game to them; if we lose playing this way, then so be it. Because playing 10 men behind the ball when we have gone with this attitude it has won us nothing. So, yes, let's test ourselves against one of the best teams in the Premier League.

Predicting that we'll go there for a draw and we'll leave with nothing. He's some Muppet.

It's about time that the Evertonian obsession with fearing and wanting to beat Liverpool was dispelled. It's just another game, let's just go out to win it, and win it in style.

I personally think we will go toe to toe with them. COYB!!!

Be careful, Idrissa Gueye. One plus, the ref's a Manc.
COYBB.

Let's not invite Salah in, as has been done the last few seasons, aka Coutinho, stop the feed and keep safe distance off Mane and diving twat Firminio.

If we keep our heads, as we have done against the so-called top 5, this season, then we have an excellent chance of winning but we must take our chances, including any penalty.

It's on the day and if there's no local lads playing, it's not the end of the world, but it shows how the game's changed and will continue to change.

Tomorrow, let's go for it, and earn a long overdue victory at our old ground.

“It's time that Everton flexed their muscles at Anfield, they should be embarrassed that they have not won there since 1999 and their fans have been let down”.

It's time, boys... it's time to do it tomorrow.

Pickford
Coleman(c) Keane Mina Digne
Gueye Gomes
Walcott Sigurdsson Lookman
Richarlison

Subs: Stekelenburg, Zouma, Baines, Davies, Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Tosun

With a new attack, the extra touch of class which Gomes provides in midfield and greater organisation in defence, we look much better equipped to compete with the RS than we did last December. As always the players will have the backing of our 2,749 fans in the Anfield Road — plus Mike Gaynes willing them on from his seat among the home brethren. All that remains is for the players to step up and earn their place among the immortals.

As Derek (#44) says, it was a privilege to meet Mike last night as well as put names to the faces of ToffeeWebbers. May we all enjoy a truly memorable weekend!

I'd have him in the dugout tomorrow!

Andy Johnson winner I think that day.

The Sky 6 would all have 90+ points and a goal difference of like + 100.

Wolves would be 7th.

Everton would have about 10 points.

We are much better than last season but can we really challenge the top four.

Sometimes an outsiders view is not what we want to hear when they disagree with what we are thinking.

I think we still need a couple more players and they need to be as close to world class as we can get.

Same outcome as usual tomorrow I dread to say. Not going to watch it as I will end up smashing the TV (done that before). But we live in hope and one day this run will be over.

I will record Match of the Day just in case.

COYB.

Same again tomorrow, please.

In the dugout? I would have Drago up top, perfect target man. Sly is a good back up goalie as we saw in the game against the Nazis in Paris. But if Pickford is fit, it gives Sly more time to dig the tunnel out of Anfield.

It make sense Drago gravitated towards Everton in the 70s. Personality wise he is not unlike Gordon Leigh. But it is kind of funny though for those of us who grew up in the 80s that the Rocky franchise is now synonymous with Everton through Sly, Lundgren, Ricky Hatton, Creed etc. It's also a little bitter-sweet as we are talking about one of the best films of the '80s alongside the best team of the '80s. Hopefully we can have the same kind of resurgence Creed has had.

As far as Sunday goes, I am not feeling hopeless as in the past but I am wary of the fact that Klopp has had a pretty good team in place for three years. Some of our lads only have a few games under their belts. It may be a bit soon for us to get the better of them. But, even if we do lose, any kind of half-decent effort would be an improvement on the white flag treatment of recent years.

Derek, John, Dave and Tony, it was a delight to meet you guys last night. And I was honored by the presence of John McFarlane senior, Brian Williams and the wide-ranging Andy Crooks. Thanks, fellas.

Charlie Nicholas? How do some of these jokers get the work? That said, I guess there is Pat Nevin, another frustrating wee Scot who never really fulfilled expectations (outside of Tranmere) who is one of the go-to "experts" on the BBC. Merson is like the new Jimmy Greaves, a cantankerous drunk.

I hate to say it but, the most incisive commentary I have heard in recent years was from an unlikely source: Tony Meola the former US goalie from the era pre-MLS. Not a great player by any means but he just seems as if he (a) has a brain and (b) has no obvious bias towards any team. But, I think Sky would rather wheel out notorious "pundits" that their viewers recognize from scandals in The Sun and Daily Star, as opposed to lesser knowns, who maybe just understand football?

It was great to meet you, mate, and the others too. A short but great evening. Bring us luck on Sunday, Mike.

Oh and I put the £7 on a 2-1 win at 20-1 so fingers crossed. I figured, if the bet comes in, I could donate the winnings to EitC if everyone's happy with that. Or we could spend it on ale, lol!

Love it.

Lucky man to have met some of the best TWers. Enjoy yourself!

ps: I'll burn the pic!

Fair enough. I only saw Nevin play live in the flesh (as opposed to on TV) for Everton, and he did get a goal that day. It was 11 May 1991: QPR v Everton, Roy Wegerle scored for QPR (He was presented with top scorer award by Jim Rosenthal before kick off even though he only scored about 16 goals – enough to win in those days).

Iain Jenkins was at left back, Eddie Youds was on the bench, but my enduring memory is this obese, drunken QPR fan in front of me who spent the whole game yelling "Southall – you are a fat Pooh."

ps: You may burn the pics, but keep the negatives, just in case any future blackmail arises!

And we should target their right back as a few teams have successfully done this season.

As for tomorrow, we're in form, settled & dangerous with a stronger mentality. More of the last few weeks with some improvement in the final third and we'll create problems for them. Love Silva's attitude towards this game. We'll find out plenty about his team tomorrow.

And if we do win, could someone steal Mr Gaynes's passport?

It was great to meet you last night and the others too, as John McFarlane Snr suggested, we should do it more often, food for thought, anyway.

Here's hoping for the right result tomorrow.

Despite much more positive vibe at present about the Silva reign and the way the season has started, if we lose the derby tomorrow it means that Evertonians will have a negative Christmas buildup.

The derby needs to mean more than three points, it's pride, it's bragging rights, it's local hero folklore.

Andy came from Belfast yesterday and is going back home today; well done, Andy, hope you have a safe journey home.

Alexander-Arnold is right. As much as it hurts me to say it, we are one of those teams who are intimidated going there – no two ways about it. I think the results since 1999 bear testament to that. It's embarrassing and I feel myself going red every time I think about it.

It won't change tomorrow either – no matter how much tub-thumping we do. We're beaten in the tunnel every time that idiotic song comes on. But, hey, not to worry... The liver birds are blue – that's all that matters.

Glad you had a good day yesterday, hope you work you're magic and have an even better one tomorrow.

I'm going for a 3-2 win tomorrow, late winner from Sigurdsson.

Scenes.

I fully expect the RS to get at least 1 penalty and us at least 1 red card. They still have kudos with the devil.

Not as optimistic as some I'm afraid. 60-odd years of watching us meekly surrender, with the odd few years of actually believing we can beat them and doing so, have slowly eroded any thought I have harboured of really doing the devil's spawn.

Fingers crossed for a well-deserved point.

We haven’t won a derby in which Liverpool have scored in since 1995.

We haven’t come from behind to win a derby since 1992 (Beardsley).

We have not scored in both the first and second half at Anfield since April 1999.

We have scored one goal in open play at Anfield since January 2011 (Jags screamer)

We have won 3 of the last 37 Merseyside derbies home and away

So basically if Liverpool score tomorrow then it’s highly unlikely we will win.

Good luck with breaking some of those records.

I said a while ago you seemed a good lad. Dave's post confirms it.

Whatever happens tomorrow will be better than this!

Enjoyed meeting all the faces, and hope they are all smiling tomorrow night, even if I'm a bit worried with Marine losing today... just in case Mike's Midas touch has worn off.

Oh well, 1-0 to the blues will do just fine, thank you very much.

How sweet would the Klopp interview after be? Up there with Stevie G's slip...

Surely we're well overdue some derby luck...

COYB

The club itself, and the players that come through the ranks of it, are mentally paralysed by the inferiority complex that is now in the club's DNA 're Liverpool FC.

For God's sake, they folded at Wembley against a bang average Liverpool side containing Jay fucking Spearing playing in midfield.

Look at the away wins in this fixture stretching back half a century.

Hopefully things are beginning to change. We need big characters, untainted by this Everton way of thinking. Pickford is a mad, cocky bastard. Mina is clearly off his tits and will relish it. Richarlison is a big player, mentally. He can handle it. Sigurdsson is a very, very cool customer. Likewise Gomes.

Not a – good pros that they were – Ossie or Jags in sight. Or a fucking Niasse.

I actually fancy us. And I gave up on that a decade ago after we folded there against 10 men – for the second time under Moyes – and realised the players were blocked playing at Anfield.

"Not a – good pros that they were – Ossie or Jags in sight. Or a fucking Niasse".

At least they have all scored against the other lot!

The point of my post is this. I have never been to a derby game and yes, it is a big deal to me but, my God, after the years of suffering, I now know what it means to Blues in Liverpool. I want a win tomorrow for Mike, the lads from Friday, and indeed every blue, more than I have ever wanted a win. I would love to have been going to the game but meeting these magnificent, kind and generous Evertonians was even better.

Tomorrow, I will view the game the same way as Brian Williams. With my hands over my eyes and with a knot in my stomach. Good luck to you all.

Shameful.

Great to meet you too, mate, and glad you got home safe and sound. Hope you can somehow get a ticket for the home derby and we'll meet up again, mate.

Tell your wife her fears are totally unfounded, lol!!

I've got a feeling Lookman will have a part to play late on tomorrow as well he has looked very good when coming off the bench lately.

I will be saying a prayer tonight! COYB's! FTRS!

Praise in particular for Andy who flew over from Northern Ireland just for the meet up. Well done, Andy, and glad you enjoyed the evening and the good old Scouse hospitality.

I'll be making the annual pilgrimage over to Anfield tomorrow. I've lost count of how many times I've been there (though not as many as John Raftery), yet have only witnessed TWO wins, and one of them was a league cup game. As Marco Silva says, records are there to be broken so let's hope we can finally break this particular unwanted record and get the win tomorrow. I'll be looking up at the Centenary Stand when we score to see if there are two unruly gentleman being carted out after celebrating an Everton goal!!

So once again, it was a pleasure meeting some new faces last night and, as Brian says, hopefully another get together can be arranged soon.

She replied saying but he's not a real fan as he never goes and hasn't done for at least 30 years and anyway there is no way we are going in there (at this point with a look of utter disgust on her face pointing at the RS souvenir shop). That's my girl and blue polo shirt it is then!

We also took time to see the Royal Liver Building – Wow, what a statement. Lots of visitors pointing up to the royal blue birds in complete awe, bring it on.

COYB

I'll take any type of a win tomorrow, as long as it's a win.

Seems to have stopped now though.

With the pace we have in the side now, we can come at them and put them on the back foot. I'd love to see them worried. And they played on Wednesday night so there must be some fatigue...

He made that journey just to meet Mike and the others who turned up, he has my total respect for that, and at the same time, re-enforced my belief that genuine Evertonians are a bit special!

I can't end this post without a mention too for John McFarlane Snr, a true gentleman who is in his eighties now (only just) for his contributions to TW, but he at least made the effort, although not in the best of health, to turn up to see Mike Gaynes and the rest of us, total respect John!

See, I know to some it's just another game and I know to some it's not the be-all and end-all; however, to me, this game just offers so much more and so many memories of childhood and family banter.

I'm not a scouser, I'm from Brighouse near Huddersfield, but I was taken to the '84 FA Cup Final at a mere 6 years old... I was hooked. Those memories of that era are some of my finest and first memories where we would all watch the derby in front of the TV and cousins would come in their red kit and I would be sat praying in my blue kit whilst eating the fudgey shortcake my mum had made for us all.

I have a close friend who is a kopite who has literally been mocking season after season and has never failed to comment before, during and after derbies slating us etc, but strangely all appears quiet so far... something has changed and this shows me they are worried sick.

Not only would victory give bragging rights for Blues but it will give something far more important than that.

What I hope for is not a scrappy 1-0 win or a 2-1 win (although I will take it). I am greedy. I want us to go there and win 3-0, I want them to go home demoralised and realising that we are coming. We are soon to be gatecrashing that top table again and dining where we should .

The red shite, and the others are worried. Mark my words. This is the perfect opportunity to stick two fingers up to the likes of Carragher, Merson, Redknapp (not old Harry, he's busy eating leopards eyes or whatever) and all the other naysayers who clearly do not want the current Darlings disrupted.

The city of Liverpool is turning blue.

COYB

My big regret was that, due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to leave the gathering early, unfortunately I didn't buy a round of drinks, but I believe that those who attended my 80th birthday wouldn't class me as a freeloader, and if (as I hope) another occasion arises, I will attempt to put this discrepancy to rights. It was a pleasure to renew acquaintances and meet fellow "ToffeeWebbers," for the first time.

I have always maintained that I couldn't understand the hooligan element that invaded our sport, it's the love of football that draws us together, as witness Friday night's welcome to Mike Gaynes, and I am proud to have been a part of it. Best wishes, John.

Then, unfortunately, your positive outcome has become predicted and must be wrong. God almighty this is what the derby does to me. Brian Williams, you know what I mean.

When was the last time we went into the derby with our strongest 11 available, and strength on the bench as well? When was the last time we had a manager that shows no fear and is prepared to go toe to toe with the opposition? The closest in my view was the FA Cup semi-final, when we had it then threw it away with a shocking back pass, and a white handkerchief raised in the second half.

This is our best chance for a long time. Our neighbours are playing well; if we do not get a result, it will not be down to throwing the towel in.

This is the first time since that semi-final that I have felt this confident of Everton putting in a performance.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/full-story-split-saw-liverpool-15489099

But it's my early evening ;-) !!!

I think we need to improve the team still, it’s easy to get carried away with the positives we have witnessed this season but to be the best we can be then we should always look to improve our squad.

Alex Ferguson’s era at United was all about winning trophies but constantly improving the team and making sure they were even stronger the following year.

We still look a bit weak up front outside Richarlison and if you lose the goals Sigurdsson has been getting this term then we need more from other players.

For me we need improvements on DCL, Tosun and Niasse because for a club with top 6 aspirations you can’t hang your hat on those players.

We need more goals from Walcott and if he isn’t doing it then Lookman needs to come in but likewise if he comes in then he needs to offer a goal threat and goals to his game it’s no use just being in the team for the sake of keeping Walcott out.

You make a good point that we seem to have lost that grit that we had in every derby in the 90’s.

Even when Liverpool haven’t had the best players in recent years they have always seemed to be physically fitter and stronger in derbies and more geared up for the occasion whilst we seem lethargic and unable to compete when it comes to a battle .

Who knows if that will change but it’s been this way now for nigh on 18 years and the players no longer appear to relish a trip to Anfield.

It should be a game that they all aspire to score in and become a hero but on a yearly basis they all look terrified standing in the tunnel prior to kickoff.

They need to stay awake and help out defensively as both their full backs bomb forward.

More importantly when they have our chances they have to take them. They have to keep their composure and score, not blast the ball straight at the keepers legs.

If we take or chances and the match officials are consistent, we will do very well.

If we do get two good chances we need them to fall to the right men.

Tosun and DCL had glorious chances in the last few minutes at Goodison in April and they spectacularly squandered them.

We will be ok in goal, defence and I think stronger in midfield, they have not met the new Gana, as David (151) mentions Bernard and Walcott need to track and work like ‘Dogs of War’ (someone had to say it!) and one of them must score. DCL to come on and score in the 82nd with a header over Virgil for a 2-1 Everton win. A lot of this team have no fear of that shit hole.

I therefore don't think this is our best opportunity, certainly no better than it was 4 or 5 years ago when they were a pretty poor team but football is often about small margins and getting the little bit of luck needed to decide such close games.

Win, lose or draw I'm happy with our progress and that's what's most important for us this season. Continuing to play good attacking football and quickly bouncing back from any setbacks.

This could be 0-0 or 4-0 to either team. Both teams are in good form and I want our players to continue to improve and excite us and not to let themselves down with silly mistakes and missed opportunities. NSNO

As much as I want to be positive, we all know it's the hope that kills. Or if not kills, then bloody hurts!!!!

I'll be doing my usual derby day routine. Switching off ALL media, phone onto flight mode, ear phones in listening to something to take my mind off it.

Then about 6:10 pm, very tentatively and privately, switch my phone back on, raise the blood pressure and heart rate, and check BBC Sport or ToffeeWeb and pray. 🤞

At least I should enjoy the dinner.

Just practicing!

The biggest I can remember is going down to see us completely overwhelm West Brom. I don't think you could get any odds for them, it was just a case of us turning up and walking on the pitch.

I think since then, when it comes to Everton, me and optimism don't get on.

Goals were scored, clean sheets were gained, battles were won. Belief became confidence became expectation became success became trophies became legend.

A team was reborn, a club was refreshed, a generation was enlightened. This Is Just Another Field, same as the rest of them. It will happen again. Today will be that day.

Defeat again in the derby match would be very disappointing but not the end of the world given how well Everton have improved. Yes, it would be terrific to win today but, if not, their time will come and it won't be very far away.

Moneywise, RS have become a very big club but have still not delivered in the Premier League or Champions League as was expected.

Everton, on the other hand, are a work in process after several poor managers and a lack of investment but that is changing – albeit slowly.

Even better if they scored an own goal for us?!

#166 "Dermot out". And "in" at the same time.

Link

They are still in the Champions League this season, at present.

This team we come up against today is one of their best in recent memory. They have the potential to shred most teams. A win against them would be a fantastic achievement for a team that is 2 to 3 years behind in terms of development. Great credit to the management for make such great strides forwards, and we go it to this match with as good a chance as we have in 5 or so seasons. A win would be a major boost in confidence, but a draw would also be a decent result

One.

Quite literally every stat you read goes against us, the upside being that if we do lose nobody will notice anything different.

As ever, this could easily be 4-0 or 0-0. As a more mature man these days, I will no longer be watching, pacing and screaming but laying down passively while screaming at the TV in occasional, short bursts so as to not die of heart failure. I can highly recommend watching football laying down as a way to not get as over-excited as we once used to as a younger man.

You all know that, if we were to somehow score in the 90th minute at 0-0 it would be disallowed by the ref! Come on, admit it, you all know deep down that I'm right! I havent watched a live derby since I was at Wembley for the '89 Cup Final coz I can't stand the tension and the inevitability of the result. Arsenal away is the same but without the tension. It's just the law!!

I'll be behind the settee until it's over and then I'll glance at ToffeeWeb to read about the usual injustices done to us, unless we get spanked of course! I still hope I am wrong but history teaches me otherwise. Sorry but there it is from a Bearden and worn down 50-odd-year blue!

Some good points yes but you can't blame bad refereeing and bad luck for not winning at Anfield for 19 years nor can you blame luck for a record of 3 wins in 37 derbies.

Basically Everton rarely perform in Merseyside derbies, the last swashbuckling showing was the 3-3 in 2013 but since then we have grimly clung on for the odd low scoring draw.

In 19 years how many times have Everton actually taken the lead at Anfield?

The old adage of “form going out of the window In derbies” is also rubbish, it might have in the 1990s but since then the result has usually been predictable.

Jealous but you enjoy the game. We win, I expect a quantum analysis of how it happened.

I am getting excited and, though it is my nature, very optimistic.

COYB

Well, the fact that the last time we beat them, Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu were both starring in Everton shirts tells you all you need to know of how long ago it was.

Scared. They'll get that freak winner at the end. A dismal traipse down to Sandhills. I'll avoid catching up on the Live Forum and MotD.

God, it's our year. Here we go. Sun has just come out. Silva to get us organised and three points. Head held high on the way home.

Shit. It's only a game. It didn't matter anyway. Nothing to lose any sleep over.