Carragher: Everton Will Be Confident Against Reds

Well, this is certainly an unpleasant change of pace.

As the Kop serenades its oldest and crosstown rivals with its first rendition of “You haven’t won a trophy since 1995,” there will be a quiet nervousness from the home crowd, and some reason to hope for Evertonians.

Sure, they haven’t won a trophy since 1995. Hell, they haven’t won at Anfield since 1999. But with Everton in excellent form, and with Liverpool fighting to keep up with high-flying Manchester City, it’s possibly the biggest Merseyside Derby since the 2012 FA Cup semifinal. Simply: Everton have everything to win, and Liverpool have a lot to lose.

This reality will give Everton supporters some hope going into tomorrow’s match, and Jamie Carragher can only agree.

“There’s a quiet confidence from Evertonians I speak to on the back of performances against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal,” Carra said on Sky Sports.

“They only got one point out of those games but it was more the performance.

“They may not expect to go there and win but put in a performance that bodes well for the future where you think they will get victories in the coming years under Marco Silva.

“It’s a game I think Liverpool will find very difficult. Marco Silva will have worked all week on nullifying them, as they did against Chelsea which they did really well.

”I still expect Liverpool to just come through and edge it due to the extra quality of their players but it will be a really tight game.”

Oh. Great. Another tight match. Just what this season needed.

Everton’s resurgent form, good enough for a point more and position higher than Manchester United, certainly gives this fixture a different feel than in recent seasons past.

The Manchester City factor also cannot be overlooked. Whereas in seasons past a draw in the Derby, or away to Chelsea or Arsenal might have felt anywhere from “fine” to “good” results, this season they are disappointing and discouraging, as City managed to pick up 3 points, week-in and week-out like clockwork.

The Ev would love nothing more than to deal a significant and painful blow to Liverpool’s title hopes. And, of course, end their winless drought in Anfield before it reaches two decades.

Hopefully Klopp has the lads up and ready after the midweek defeat, and looking to exact revenge.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com