1 hour ago
43
Liverpool hosts Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season on Saturday, but Wayne Rooney and Chris Sutton expect life to be difficult for the Premier League champions.
The Merseyside derby is one of the most anticipated fixtures on the Premier League calendar, but Saturday's game at Anfield is at risk due to a weather warning. Should the game go ahead as planned, Liverpool will look to continue its perfect start to the season.
Everton has also enjoyed a resurgence under David Moyes, and is sixth in the Premier League standings. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has singled out Everton midfielder Jack Grealish as a significant threat, but Rooney and Sutton believe the defense may also be a problem.
Liverpool has been perfect through five games this season, winning all four Premier League games before a 3-2 victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Everton has only lost one game this season, and has conceded fewer goals than Liverpool.
Rooney, who spent two spells at Everton during his career, believes that his boyhood club can achieve a result at Anfield. The former Everton and Manchester United star has been impressed with Moyes' team this season, and is confident Liverpool will be frustrated at home.
"I think obviously the new stadium has helped with that, and I think the big thing is David Moyes coming back," he said on 'The Wayne Rooney Show.' "He’s come back. He knows the club.
"He knows the culture of the football club, and I think the signings have been really good. They look dangerous now, Everton, going forward with Grealish and Alcaraz, they look really dangerous going forward, Everton, and solid as well at the back.
"So yeah, I think Everton can go there and get something. They have to be at their best and defend as a unit and be hard to beat. But Moyes’ teams normally do do that. Hopefully, we can get the three points. Take a draw. Take a draw."
Sutton, a former Premier League champion with Blackburn Rovers, believes that Liverpool will win at Anfield on Saturday. However, he agrees with Rooney regarding Everton's solidity in defense.
"Everton have started the season well," Sutton told BBC Sport. "Jack Grealish has given them that creative spark on the ball, and Beto is a tireless runner up front.
"On top of that, you know David Moyes will make them hard to break down, too. Liverpool left it late again against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, and I do wonder how much that game will have taken out of them.
"Still, they have plenty of options in their squad and, while they have not been at their best, they keep on finding a way to win. That's what I think will happen again here."
Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 in the last league meeting at Anfield on April 2, before winning the Premier League title. Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the game, his final goal in Liverpool colors.
English (US) ·