Phil Thompson gives Sporting Life his Everton v Liverpool preview
Phil Thompson gives Sporting Life his Everton v Liverpool preview

Merseyside Derby preview: Liverpool legend Phil Thompson gives his verdict on Everton game at Goodison Park


Phil Thompson delivers his derby day verdict, telling us Liverpool have to match Everton in the trenches in order to take all three points.

Everton v Liverpool (1615 GMT - Sky Sports PL)

Match odds: Everton 9/2 | Draw 29/10 | Liverpool 8/13

Everything just sort of clicked for Liverpool against Watford. It's usually tough to create a good atmosphere for these games, on the back of the big game at Man Utd just gone, but the support was incredible. The players often say how the fans are great and what not, but against Watford Anfield was astonishing.

It was as though the fans were with the players and staff. The atmosphere lifted the players at the start so there was no tension or anxiety in them from the word go.

It all just came together and was a brilliant performance on and off the field. You can see the players felt it and felt more confident.

The Man Utd game we lacked intensity in the final third but that was back against Watford, and they'll need it against Everton.


Sporting Life pundits


There were good performances all over the park - Mane’s back-heel was something special, Van Dijk has been threatening to score for a while and Trent Alexander-Arnold looked like David Beckham with his assists.

Mohamed Salah was more like the Salah we know. It was a complete performance and he did everything but score, the pace on him was electrifying it was a brilliant.

Liverpool must match Everton's intensity

Derby games are always tough and it has been like that since I was a kid, you never know what you are going to get. Liverpool have to turn up, James Milner and Jordan Henderson have to be telling players to be ready and be up for it, but it is more than just your skills and tactical stuff.

If we are up for it we will win, but if you carry it in areas then we will struggle. You have to roll up your sleeves in some games and have to be ready to give your all.

They know they are better than Everton but they have to be up for it. It is the last tough away game for Liverpool before Chelsea and Tottenham at home. After this match we are down to single digits in matches and counting down.

Everton and the fans will be wanting to do their upmost to not only win the game but to stop Liverpool from winning the title. They have to embrace that and as a Liverpool player it should give them extra motivation.

Everton will be a lot happier for the victory at Cardiff and now they are not short of confidence and feeling a lot better, as well as keeping a clean sheet.

Liverpool have to see the first 15-20 minutes through. When the game settles down, as long as they keep competing, the quality will come through.

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