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The Premier League is back, with the first Merseyside derby of the season kicking off the weekend’s action.

It’s derby day on Saturday, as Everton make the short trip across Stanley Park to face Liverpool at Anfield for the 294th Merseyside derby.

After suffering their first Premier League defeat since April in contentious circumstances away at Tottenham, Liverpool could only draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in their final game before the October international break, though those who pay attention to football betting predictions will no doubt be backing the Reds.

Everton, meanwhile, ended their wait for a first home win of the season by dispatching Bournemouth 3-0 at Goodison Park, in a match where the good work Sean Dyche has managed to do this season finally paid off.

That being said, there’s no doubt that these two rivals are operating at different ends of the spectrum right now, and Liverpool are heavy favourites to continue their excellent record against their neighbours at Anfield.

While Liverpool are looking to return to the Champions League — and a title challenge cannot be discounted just yet — the goal for Everton is a bit of stability in mid-table, and avoiding another relegation scrap.

Dyche will point to the statistics, and perhaps fairly so, that show Everton are performing well, but the results have not matched up, and after a fairly easy start, the Toffees are now into a much tougher run of fixtures — on paper at least.

DATA BRIEF

Everton have won just one derby since 2011, and that came behind closed doors Anfield in the 2020-21 season, when Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson handed then-manager Carlo Ancelotti a 2-0 win.

That victory is one of just five Everton have enjoyed over their rivals since the turn of the century.

However, there is cause for optimism. According to the underlying numbers, Everton should be as high as seventh in the Premier League, which is just a place behind where Liverpool ought to be if the data were followed to a tee.

That being said, football isn’t played on a spreadsheet, and it is the real table that counts, with Liverpool sitting fourth and Everton 16th.

WHAT IT MEANS

After two league games without a win, Jurgen Klopp will be looking for Liverpool to get back on the horse. Their last two league outings have both been on the road against top-half rivals, and Liverpool have won their three home games this season by an aggregate of 9-2.

A win would see them move joint-top of the standings alongside Arsenal and Tottenham on 20 points, though the north London pair would be able to position themselves above the Reds later in the weekend.

Everton, meanwhile, have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, after winning just one in six before that. They appear to have turned a corner in terms of results, but getting something at Anfield would be a huge confidence boost.

ODDS ON

It’s Liverpool who are the overwhelming favourites, and a 3-1 victory is being predicted for the Reds.

That would match up with what the data suggests, too.

Liverpool have conceded three expected goals against (xGA) over the course of their three home matches this season, meaning they are essentially allowing chances worthy of one goal per game. However, they have accumulated eight non-penalty expected goals (xG), showing their threat at the other end.

The Reds are forecasted to challenge Manchester City for the title this term, while Everton are expected to be involved in another relegation tussle, though ultimately stay up.

ONES TO WATCH

Liverpool — Mohamed Salah

Salah has directly contributed to 27 goals in his last 23 Premier League games, and has chipped in in each of his last 12 matches at Anfield. The winger has scored five goals in nine meetings with the Toffees.

Everton — Jack Harrison 

Harrison’s full Everton debut could hardly have gone better, as he scored a stunner to put the Toffees 2-0 up against Bournemouth and then played a part in Everton’s third goal. The Leeds United loanee netted his maiden Premier League goal against Liverpool at Anfield in September 2020. The Reds have not lost at home in the league since they were beaten by Leeds in October 2022, and Harrison featured in that match.

MISSING OUT?

There are doubts over Andrew Robertson and Cody Gakpo for Liverpool, with the latter having sustained a nasty knee injury in that defeat to Tottenham last month.

Robertson, meanwhile, dislocated his shoulder while on international duty for Scotland, and has since returned to his club for treatment.

Everton, meanwhile, have a relatively fit squad. They are set to be without captain Seamus Coleman, though the 35-year-old full-back is nearing a return to fitness, while Dele Alli and Andre Gomes are also expected to be out, but neither of those would be likely to start anyway.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In 293 all-time meetings, Liverpool have won 124 times, with Everton winning on 83 occasions and 86 derbies finishing all square.

In the corresponding fixture last term, Liverpool won 2-0 in what was Dyche’s second match in charge of Everton. The points had been shared in a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park in September 2022, with Conor Coady having a would-be Everton winner disallowed by VAR for offside.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

• Liverpool 2-0 Everton — Premier League, 13th February 2023
• Everton 0-0 Liverpool — Premier League, 3rd September 2022
• Liverpool 2-0 Everton — Premier League, 24th April 2022
• Everton 1-4 Liverpool — Premier League, 1st December 2021
• Liverpool 0-2 Everton — Premier League, 20th February 2021