Anfield. For Everton, a floor the place hopes of success are routinely quashed. And it is the identical for his or her supervisor David Moyes.
Everton have but to win at Liverpool’s residence floor in entrance of a crowd within the twenty first Century. Their solely triumph there up to now 25 years got here throughout the Covid pandemic in 2021 beneath the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti.
Advertisement
Moyes has failed in all of his 22 makes an attempt, with plenty of golf equipment, to win a sport at Anfield.
On Saturday, Everton go to a Liverpool aspect who’re Premier League champions, are having fun with an ideal begin to their season, and have British report signing Alexander Isak set to make his top-flight debut for them.
But are the Reds extra weak than their kind suggests? Arne Slot’s aspect have let a two-goal lead slip on three events this season, albeit recovering to win every time, whereas Everton have loved a powerful begin of their very own following a summer time of unprecedented recruitment.
BBC Sport examines a number of the key themes earlier than Saturday’s assembly.
Advertisement
Moyes’ Everton on the largest golf equipment
Moyes has overseen 22 matches at Anfield over his profession, drawing seven and shedding 15. He has travelled with Everton 13 instances, shedding on six events.
It is a report reflective of Moyes’ managerial struggles away to the largest sides. He has endured the 4 longest runs of a supervisor of 1 membership visiting the identical aspect with out ever successful within the Premier League – with equally terrible data away to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.
So why may that report change on the residence of the reigning champions on Saturday?
Moyes’ mostly used formation at Anfield has been 4-2-3-1 – which is identical tactical set-up which has been used so successfully this season.
Advertisement
The largest distinction has been Everton’s summer time of massive signings – 9 gamers have been introduced in at a report web spend of £97m.
The Toffees now have the requisite weapons with which to harm their metropolis rivals – notably within the guise of latest arrivals Jack Grealish, who leads the Premier League assists chart with 4, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who’s already averaging extra probabilities per sport than any Everton participant for the reason that begin of final season.
“So often we take the still relatively short trip, in hope rather than expectation, with the apparent curse that encases our one-time home still very much alive,” stated Mike Richards, from The Unholy Trinity Everton podcast, referring to the truth that Anfield was the membership’s residence from 1884 to 1892.
“However, this Everton feels far removed from many of those sides that have gone before them.
Advertisement
“There’s a belief this Everton assault can ask questions of most, if not all sides within the league.”
Will Everton attack?
Everton have played on the front foot in wins against Brighton and Wolves this season, while they were unfortunate to draw with Aston Villa last weekend after wasting a host of golden chances.
Having ranked 18th for goals from open play in the Premier League in 2024-25, scoring just 25, the Toffees have attacked with aplomb this season, with Iliman Ndiaye also starring in a new right-sided role.
Tyler Dibling, Everton’s biggest signing of the summer at an initial £40m, could also feature.
Advertisement
But will the shackles truly come off away to a side who have scored 14 goals in six games in all competitions and can call on the services of nearly £300m worth of attacking talent signed this summer?
Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are all in contention to start this weekend.
History suggests that Moyes tends to be more pragmatic away to the biggest sides. In Everton’s most recent 10 visits to Anfield under the Scotsman, spread over the past 20 years, they have scored a total of just five goals, converting only 6.7% of their chances.
However Moyes chooses to set up his side come Saturday, these are statistics that must improve if Everton are to secure an elusive derby win.
Advertisement
“We’ve regarded for a second of magic or piece of particular person brilliance at Anfield on so many events, and on so many events we merely fell quick in that division,” Richards said.
“Defeat has so typically felt inevitable after falling behind, however now that is not the case.”
Are Liverpool more vulnerable this season?
For all of Liverpool’s domination of this fixture on home soil, derbies on Merseyside tend to be tight, wherever they’re played.
On the past eight occasions that Everton and Moyes have visited their neighbours, there have been four draws, and three games settled by a single goal.
Advertisement
There is also a sense that despite Liverpool’s formidable firepower, they are more vulnerable than in recent seasons.
The Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday was the third time this season the Reds have let a two-goal lead slip. Again they found a winner, but the defensive fragility will give encouragement to opponents.
While Slot’s men sit top of the Premier League table, they have been reliant on late strikes, with their past five games in all competitions won by goals coming after the 82nd minute.
Everton have actually led for 26 minutes more than Liverpool in the Premier League this season – and an early goal could be crucial at Anfield.
Advertisement
All five of Everton’s league goals have come in the first 55 minutes of games, including three in the opening half hour, while Liverpool have yet to go behind.
If Moyes’ men can take, and maintain, an early lead, they must also withstand the inevitable barrage late on at Anfield – Liverpool have scored 47 winners after the 90th minute in the Premier League era, at least 13 more than any other team.
“There’s a restored belief amongst followers that we’re a membership transferring in the precise course,” added Richards. “Whether will probably be sufficient on Saturday stays to be seen, however when followers and gamers are aligned, magical issues can occur.”