Tactics: Preview – Everton v Liverpool

By and large, the Merseyside derby is generally, what some would call, a tasty affair. All high studs, cultured tackles and raised temperatures and, subsequently, responsible for more red cards than any other Premier League fixture. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see how the more cerebral approaches of both sides’ current managers holds up in front of the frothing bowels of Goodison on derby day.

Successive draws, including the particularly insipid performance against currently managerless Crystal Palace, have set Everton’s season back a step after what had been an uncharacteristically excellent start. There’s no denying that Roberto Martinez has moved his side on, stylistically at least, from the functional and often drab days under former manager David Moyes, with the players and fans seemingly buying into the new manager’s principles of possession being nine tenth’s of the law.

Summer signings James McCarthy and Gareth Barry have more than just maintained the solidity of Everton’s midfield developed under Moyes, with Barry in particular offering a more ‘silk glove’ option in comparison to last year’s Fellaini-shaped iron fist alternative, but the Toffees have become over-reliant on, on-loan man-mountain, Romelu Lukaku and will need Nikita Jelavic to rediscover some of the form of his first season on Merseyside, if they are to get back on track and maintain a push towards the top four this season.

Liverpool’s concerns are the opposite to those of their Stanley Park neighbours. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge’s partnership up front is arguably the most potent in the Premier League, but, after an excellent start, Brendan Rogers’ defence has looked porous in recent times, recording their first clean sheet since the 1-0 win over Manchester United on September 1, in the 4-0 hammering of Fulham.

The loss of Jose Enrique to injury has been a critical factor, with few options available to Rogers by way if replacement. Mamadou Sakho, fresh from his qualifying heroics for France, will no doubt be full if confidence, but the big defender is no full back and Liverpool need to find a better option or fully commit to three central defenders that has become a regular feature since that win over United.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Liverpool have the upper hand over Everton in recent times, having lost only once in the last 13 matches between these two sides. Having lost only once under Martinez this season though, Everton will be confident of a change in fortune despite only Colin Harvey and Joe Royle winning their first derby match as Everton manager.

FORMATIONS

Everton will lineup in Roberto Martinez’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to control possession and create opportunities through their excellent wide players, benefitting from the now tried and tested partnerships on both flanks of Baines – Pienaar and Seamus Coleman – Kevin Mirallas.

Liverpool will revert to a back four, at least to start this fixture , with the so far unpredictable Aly Cissokho continuing in the absence of Jose Enrique.

Liverpool’s midfield quartet of Lucas, Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Coutinho has tended to lead to a lack of width, with all four players used to operating in central areas. Brendan Rogers will look to control possession in these central areas, using the vision of Coutinho to thread passes through to Liverpool’s excellent strike combination.

Image courtesy of the Guardian

KEY BATTLE

Phil Jagielka v Luis Suarez

Very few players came out with too much praise for England from the games with Chile and Germany, but the Everton defender was certainly one of them, shepherding what was a creaky-looking defensive unit, alongside a shaky and uncertain Chris Smalling, arguably keeping the much-lauded German frontline at bay.

If Everton are to succeed against their neighbours, Jagielka will need to be at his best again to keep out the in-form Uruguayan, currently on a run of eight goals in his six Premier League games since his return from suspension.

The outcome of this contest will go some way to deciding which side of Liverpool, blue or red, will be celebrating come three o’clock.