Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park to play for the final time in what could be a pivotal match in their quest to win a 20th top-flight title.
The Merseyside derby was to be played just before Christmas but was postponed because of one of the many storms – it was Darragh for those who haven’t kept count – which have lashed across the country in recent months.
Victory in their game in hand over the chasing pack will ease the Reds nine points clear of Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s home meeting with lowly Wolves and tougher challenges at Aston Villa and Manchester City, before they entertain Newcastle in a prelim to the Carabao Cup final between the two clubs next month.
On paper, Arne Slot’s side, who may have a fit-again Trent Alexander-Arnold back after a thigh problem, should cruise to an easy victory but because it is the last time they will face the Toffees at Goodison Park the atmosphere will be stoked up even more than usual.
Everton are still enjoying a renaissance with David Moyes back at the club for a second stint as manager and wins against Tottenham, Brighton and Leicester put them in fine fettle before Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the FA Cup.
Liverpool also fell by the wayside along the road to Wembley when they were stunned by Championship basement dwellers Plymouth Argyle at Home Park and although key operatives were rested it was a defeat which stung and will be a blot on their copybook through the ages.
They will be firing on all cylinders in an effort to somehow dim the painful memory of an embarrassing reversal in which they failed to score for only the third time this season, the other occasions being in the 1-0 defeats at home to Nottingham Forest and at Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Mohamed Salah returns to action after being rested at the weekend and tops the Premier League scoring charts with 21 to his credit, two ahead of Erling Haaland, and can celebrate his sixth strike in five matches by tucking away the first goal, as he did when bagging a double at Bournemouth in Liverpool’s last league appearance, at 23/20 with Unibet.
Everton have lost only two of the last dozen home league games against their neighbours, drawing nine times with 12 of the last 16 yielding under 2.5 goals.
So take the draw at 15/4 with Betfair and Unibet, while the Toffees +2 is 4/6 with these two bookies and bet365.
Hot-shot Harry Kane can carry on scoring
Harry Kane scored twice from the penalty spot as Bayern Munich moved seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga by beating Werder Bremen 3-0 on Friday and now has Celtic in his sights.
The England captain can improve his remarkable record of 72 goals in 73 games for the German club by opening the scoring in the Champions League match in Glasgow at 3/1 with Paddy’s Power and Betfair, while he is 4/6 with the same firms and Betfred to score at any time.
Bayern are evens with William Hill and Paddy Power to win by more than one goal with a 3-1 away win 9/1 with Hills, bet365, SpreadEx and BoyleSports.
Daizen Maeda is 11/2 with Sky Bet to raise the roof at Parkhead by scoring at any point for the hosts.
• Promotion chasers Burnley, Sunderland, Sheffield United and West Brom can all win at home and land Wednesday’s Championship acca.
MORE: Everton vs Liverpool: Latest team news, predicted line-ups and injuries
MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold injury update from Arne Slot ahead of Merseyside derby
MORE: Arsenal dealt blow as Barcelona identify ‘main transfer objective’ for summer
