Anfield Hosts First Merseyside Derby of the Season in 11 Years

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, Sports News Friday, September 26th, 2014

It’s another Merseyside derby in the English Premier League this weekend, but Saturday’s fixture is unique as it will be the first time since the 2002/03 season, that this derby will be played at Anfield first up rather than Goodison Park.

The Reds are desperate to find some form in the Premier League, having suffered two disappointing defeats in a row and 3 in total from the first 5 league games of the new season. There’s no more important time to turn fortunes around than Saturday’s derby fixture.

However, somewhat thankfully for both sides heading into this game, form is likely to go out of the window as ever with the high tempo, all-action clashes of which for the first time since the 2002/03 season, will be played at Anfield first up rather than Goodison Park.

Joe Allen, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan are all ruled due to on-going injuries but Rodgers will desperately be hoping to have some of his first choice players suffering with injury back in time of the clash.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s title storyline is irrelevant for Everton as with the Reds, Martinez’s side have also endured a disappointingly slow start to the league season. The Blues have one less point to show from their opening 5 games than Rodgers’ men, having won only 1 game as they currently occupy 14th place in the table.

The Toffees arrive at Anfield off the back of a 3-0 defeat and subsequent League Cup exit to Swansea, as Martinez rotated his side against his old club ahead of Saturday’s game. £28 million man Romelu Lukaku was benched as were fellow regulars Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy.

Steven Naismith, John Stones, Phil Jagielka, Gareth Barry and Leighton Baines were all left out of the squad of completely making them all extremely likely to be recalled to the team on Saturday.

However, Seamus Coleman and Steven Pienaar are doubts for the match and the Everton boss has confirmed that both will be assessed in the lead up to the clash.

Everton will be hoping to break their long standing Anfield duck of having not recorded victory in a derby fixture away from home since 1999, but the Blues may have to improve on having the worst defensive record in the Premier League – having conceded 13 goals in 5 games – if they want to do so.