Paul Merson and Alan Shearer agree as pundits expect same result in Everton vs Liverpool

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Liverpool travels to Everton in the Premier League this weekend, with Paul Merson and Alan Shearer in agreement about the likeliest outcome at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

Paul Merson and Alan Shearer. (Image: Getty Images)

Paul Merson and Alan Shearer are both expecting the same result as Liverpool takes on Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time this weekend.

With both sides chasing qualification for European competitions next season, there is more than just pride on the line, but neither team will want to lose the first game between the pair in Everton's new stadium.

As a result, Merson and Shearer are of the view that it could be a stalemate on Sunday, with Everton going into the clash with confidence but Liverpool having shown a bit more in matches against Fulham and PSG this week.

"For the first time in a long, long time, this is an even game," Merson wrote for Sportskeeda. "You can’t really call Liverpool the favorites here. The way Liverpool are playing, you would be shocked if they beat Everton this weekend.

"Arne Slot took the easy way out by not starting with Rio Ngumoha in the PSG game. He should have been there in the line-up and would have given the crowd a huge lift.

"So I would go with Ngumoha, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah as the front-three against Everton. They are direct and once they get the ball, they run at defenders.

Arne Slot and David Moyes will meet in Sunday's derby(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Liverpool need that away from home against Everton. Liverpool still have good players and I won’t be surprised if they win this game, but something tells me that Everton will get a point."

Going into the weekend, there are five points and three Premier League places between Liverpool and Everton. A win for the Reds would cement their place in the Champions League spots.

"It's a tough one," Shearer told Betfair. "You know what I'm like when it comes to derby games. I'm going to sit on the fence and say it's going to be a draw.

"I was going to say to keep both fans happy, but I'm not sure they will be. Everton are having a brilliant season, whereas Liverpool are not, so I think it'll be a draw.

"Liverpool playing in midweek should not affect them because it's a derby game, and we know what derby games are like, and there's always an added, extra atmosphere.

"The midweek game is no excuse at all for Liverpool because of the size of this game and what it means to the people."

Liverpool.com says: A draw here would not be a bad result for the Reds, but a win would be massive for Slot. In the final few matches of this season, Liverpool could do with boosting the mood ahead of the summer, and getting a victory here or at Old Trafford in a few weeks would go a long way to making that happen.