Everton (A): Build Up

[BobTheCharmer]

This is exactly the sort of game we need right now. Form goes out of the window. In Sturridge we have someone capable of dragging us through. It's all about result over performance.

[Yozza]

Jamie Carragher: Why I'm backing Everton in crunch derby with Liverpool

JAMIE CARRAGHER says Everton are favourites in the Merseyside derby.

The former Liverpool player and now Sky Sports pundit looked ahead at the Reds' trip to Goodison Park on Sunday (1.30pm).

He believes the performances Roberto Martinez has got out of his Everton squad make them the smart bet in front of a home crowd

"I see Everton as favourites for this one - it does not happen often I must say," he wrote in his Sky Sports column.

"Liverpool are seen as the 'bigger' club, they have spent more money and so are expected to win more trophies.

"But the way Liverpool have been playing this season compared to Everton, I think Everton have the edge, and it is at Goodison obviously, which is in their favour.

"And I think the massive win that Everton had at West Brom, coming back from two goals down, gives everyone a massive lift at the club."

Everton sit fifth in the Premier League, having won three of their seven fixtures this season.

They are unbeaten in six games in all competitions and came back from 2-0 down to beat West Brom at the Hawthorns on Monday.

They host a Liverpool side fresh off the frustrations of last night, where they were held 1-1 to Swiss outfit FC Sion at Anfield.

Liverpool have drawn four of their last five games, having claimed just three wins in 10 outings this season.

[frank the tank]

This is exactly the sort of game we need right now. Form goes out of the window. In Sturridge we have someone capable of dragging us through. It's all about result over performance.

i hope you are right (and i think you might be).

I think it is a toss of a coin match for Brendan Rodgers. And to be honest a couple of good results in the weekends fixtures and the situation could actually look a whole lot better on paper (although we all know how bad it looks on the pitch).

For me though, i really think that we need to score 3 goals to come away with anything. Because I just can't see our defense keeping a clean sheet. (think a bet of Over 2.5 goals is a good shout)

I would like to see a diamond formation but i know it's not going to happen. I just feel that the 3 centre back formation only invites pressure onto us. I can see Naismith and Barkley having loads of joy running at our defense whereas if we had an extra man in midfield then it mightn't get to that....

[BobTheCharmer]

i hope you are right (and i think you might be).

I think it is a toss of a coin match for Brendan Rodgers. And to be honest a couple of good results in the weekends fixtures and the situation could actually look a whole lot better on paper (although we all know how bad it looks on the pitch).

For me though, i really think that we need to score 3 goals to come away with anything. Because I just can't see our defense keeping a clean sheet. (think a bet of Over 2.5 goals is a good shout)

I would like to see a diamond formation but i know it's not going to happen. I just feel that the 3 centre back formation only invites pressure onto us. I can see Naismith and Barkley having loads of joy running at our defense whereas if we had an extra man in midfield then it mightn't get to that....

How many teams have a good defence right now?

Chelsea?
Man city?
Arsenal?

It's all about scoring more goals these days. Defence is long dead.

[Yozza]

Liverpool FC analysis: Rodgers the gambler chooses Goodison as his battleground

Brendan Rodgers may have been right to turn on his most vehement critics last weekend for 'the hysteria' surrounding his future.

But the boos which again filled Anfield at the end of this latest desperately disappointing night suggest he is wrong to believe it is just people 'outside Anfield' whose frustrations are boiling over.

Not good enough – let's make that clear from the start.

A Liverpool side losing their way yet again against opposition that should have been routed, a chance to take control of a poor quality Europa League group all-too-predictably wasted.

Fans so utterly lacking in belief in their side that they were filing towards the exits of all four stands with several minutes still left on the clock.

Indeed it was perhaps the Sion fans who sportingly chanted “Liverpool, Liverpool” after the game who did so with the most conviction of any on the night.

The hardest thing in football is generally to get ahead, grab the opening goal, from there to expose your opponent further as they risk too much in the search for the leveller.

Liverpool have been ahead against Norwich, Carlisle and now Sion, the perfect base to put such limited opposition to the sword.

Yet in a strange quirk of fate the equaliser has arrived just 13 minutes later on all three occasions.

Unlucky for some?

Certainly Brendan Rodgers has cause to be thankful he is not working for Sion's charismatic owner Christian Constantin, a man who has gone through more than 30 managers in 12 years – including himself twice!

John Henry is unlikely to be heading for the dugout but Rodgers knows he must satisfy his own paymasters in Henry and the Fenway Sports Group.

And he is fully aware the satisfaction they crave lies within the four Champions League places at the top of the Premier League.

Seven changes told us all we needed to know about the Northern Irishman's priorities, for all that the new faces included a £10m striker and a £25m buy in the 'number 10' role.

That £10m man, Divock Origi, should have ensured the first part of the Liverpool manager's gamble paid off, missing at least three gilt-edged chances to send his team to the top of their group.

The young Belgian offered much hope for the future but his manager's focus is just three days ahead.

He was more than happy to risk a Europa League win against the Swiss to give himself a better chance of a Merseyside Derby win.

He has chosen his battleground - and it is across Stanley Park.

For he knows it is in a first win at Goodison where the jeers of his own supporters could most swiftly turn to cheers.

And if not?

Well.... hysteria? You ain't seen nothing yet.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

How many teams have a good defence right now?

Chelsea?
Man city?
Arsenal?

It's all about scoring more goals these days. Defence is long dead.

United
Spurs

There are ways of defending without 'defending' if that makes sense. Possession and not giving the ball away cheaply in midfield is one of the biggest factors.

[redmike65]

If I thought a sound defeat would ring the changes I'd nearly hope for a 0-3 thrashing but I can't bring myself to really want that!

[BigChief]

The definitive lose - lose game.

If we win, Rodgers stays longer = we lose.

If we lose, three more vital points dropped for next manager = lose.

How do you cheer for anything in such a game?

[Daffy Duck]

Any chance of him winning this and then still resigning immediately, leaving us with one final nice memory of his time here?

[Rich]

Sturridge might pull this one out of the bag for us again.

Other than that I have little hope. We definitely do not have enough fight in us for a Merseyside derby at the moment.

There's every chance that Sturridge nabs a couple of goals and we'll sneak this.

It is highly unlikely that we'll suddenly find some decent form and play them off the park.

[Yozza]

The definitive lose - lose game.

If we win, Rodgers stays longer = we lose.

If we lose, three more vital points dropped for next manager = lose.

How do you cheer for anything in such a game?

Bloody awful isn't it

[rodo]

He is the ****ing manager of this **** ****ing side of his but seems to think he is blameless in any of this

[Chris]

Winning a derby is not in any way a "lose". Dont care who the manager is, winning away to these is one of the best feelings ever.

[BobTheCharmer]

He is the ****ing manager of this **** ****ing side of his but seems to think he is blameless in any of this

He doesn't.

[DannyMan2006]

To excel at the top level you need an unshakable belief in yourself & Rodgers has that. He may be deluded as is insinuated by many, but that's down to FSG to figure out. We could lose the Derby 10-0 and he'd still think he was the best man for the job. He'd still point to coming second and will play the tune of giving him top players and he'll give you performances.

Sorry Brendan. But at Liverpool for the foreseeable you're not going to get genuine world class talent. You need to get them performing better than they are capable. I don't think he can do that. I don't think he did it in 13/14 either. Others could argue he did, but even if we let that one slide, that's still 2 and a bit seasons of underperforming, or at best - Par.

I reckon Brendan could go to Bayern & win the league as he's a good coach who can do a decent job. But he's not good enough to raise a team beyond what it's capable. Many suspected he had at Swansea - since he left they've improved.

Everton will be a big test for him. We've looked weak whenever teams have had a go, I fully expect Everton will be right on us and will look to give us a proper beating. They'll not sit back & allow us to be comfortable. Nor will Spurs at White Hart Lane in the game after the international break.

We've had it easy for a couple of weeks and still couldn't get decent results. It's gonna go up a notch now. I don't think this team is ready for the acid test just yet. And I don't think any fans will appreciate any sort of defeat in the Derby to carry around for the whole international break.