Liverpool and Everton are preparing to lock horns in the Merseyside derby this week, with the Reds hoping to take a step closer to the Premier League title.
Liverpool, who currently sit 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, will be taking on an Everton side eager to secure top-flight safety once and for all.
The Toffees are 17 points off top spot and are all-but assured of playing in the Premier League in their first season at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Paul Merson has now predicted who will triumph between Liverpool and Everton on Wednesday night.
Paul Merson backs Liverpool to run out 2-0 winners over Everton
Merson believes Liverpool have not been at the levels Manchester City showed in prior years, but still feels they’ve been ruthlessly efficient and consistently better than all others.
He also said the international break came at the right time for Liverpool, who looked “a bit leggy” before then, and added that Everton don’t have “the X-factor” that could trouble the Reds at Anfield.
Merson backed Liverpool to run out 2-0 winners over Everton and tipped Arne Slot’s side to get their hands on the Premier League title this season.
“I’ve got to go with Liverpool here,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda.
“I expect Everton to make it hard for Liverpool, but I look at them and I don’t see an X-factor that can hurt the hosts at Anfield.
“Liverpool have not consistently blown teams away this season. They have just been efficient and consistently better than the others.
“I don’t want to make it sound like Liverpool are not a good team or that they don’t deserve to win the league. But they are not like the best Manchester City side that dominated the league under Guardiola.
“Liverpool were looking a bit leggy before the international break, so the rest came at the right time for them.
“The holy grail for Liverpool is winning the league and I expect them to do it. If you asked any Liverpool fan what trophy they wanted to win at the start of the season, they would’ve picked the Premier League.”
Merson also praised the work David Moyes has carried out at Everton, saying the Scot has proved him wrong.
Liverpool v Everton team news
Liverpool are hoping that Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley and Ryan Gravenberch are available for Liverpool against Everton.
However, Trent Alexander-Arnold is out of the Merseyside derby due to injury, and fellow defender Joe Gomez remains sidelined.
As for Everton, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil have resumed full training ahead of the trip to Anfield.
Vitalii Mykolenko also has trained after overcoming a thigh injury while on international duty with Ukraine.
Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti, who both made substitute appearances in the 1-1 draw with West Ham last time out, will also be available for selection.
It means only Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala are ruled out for the David Moyes’ side.
