When is a rivalry not a rivalry? When two sets of fans stop caring about each other, or when one team is so utterly dominant that it becomes a walkover every time the two teams meet. As Liverpool prepare to host their closest neighbours Everton in the Merseyside Derby, a win for the Toffees is so far out of the question that Betfred have priced them at a massive 12/1 to take all three points.
Last February, behind closed doors, Everton recorded their first win over Liverpool at Anfield since 1999. They recorded only one win home or away against the Reds in the entire decade of the 2010s, and that came right at the very start, as Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta scored for David Moyes’ side.
Since that game their record against Liverpool reads, played 25, won one, drawn 12 and lost 12. The Reds weren’t even very good for a hefty chunk of that time, it's just that somehow, Everton have consistently managed to be worse.
Gary Neville hit the nail on the head when discussing the run-ins of both title-chasing clubs last week.
“In the Premier League, we’ve looked at Manchester City and thought that’s an easy run-in, but actually that’s because we’re looking at the Merseyside derby and Manchester United, which in an ordinary season would be tough. Those two teams are appalling, they could be easier than any of the teams Manchester City have got.”
As we saw against Manchester United, the only way that these two clubs can compete over 90 minutes with Liverpool is if they play off the fact that it is a derby. If these players get stuck in and show heart, they may be able to bring Klopp’s side down to their level. If they play like they normally do, as United showed, they will be on the end of a hiding.
History has been littered with these one-sided rivalries. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova had a brief period where they were both competing for major honours, but when it came down to it, the American wiped the floor with her opponent almost every time. Out of 22 total career meetings, Williams won 20, and went on a run of 18 consecutive wins from 2004. It was complete domination to the point where the rivalry was dead and buried, an old tale of what used to be.
Manchester United dominated City at Old Trafford and didn’t lose a league game at home between 1974 to 2008 to their neighbours. It took until November 2002 for City to gain their first Premier League win against the Red Devils. Few could have seen this particular rivalry getting turned on his head, but here we are.
Of course, as in Manchester, proximity and history will always mean there is a rivalry between Everton and Liverpool. It’s a football city divided into two colours, red and blue. The one mile divide of Stanley Park stands between the two famous old grounds and yet despite the geography, the chasm between the pair has seldom been wider.
Everton are in genuine danger of losing their Premier League status this year, and by the time this game kicks off they could find themselves in the bottom three, should Burnley beat Wolves at 2pm. The reverse fixture finished 4-1 to the Reds, but in Frank Lampard's first Merseyside derby, can he do anything to close the gap between the two sides?
This derby could do with Everton finally stepping up to the plate.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
