Tough COVID-19 restrictions have cast a pre-winter gloom across Merseyside but at least Everton supporters have something to lift their spirits after their side’s storming start to the Premier League season.
On Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s table-toppers host champions Liverpool at Goodison Park flushed with a rare sense of superiority over their Mersey rivals.
Everton boast the only 100% record in the Premier League from teams that have played four games, are averaging three goals per game and in Dominic Calvert-Lewin have the division’s joint-leading scorer.
By contrast, Liverpool, who were in a league of their own last season, went into the international shutdown licking their wounds after a 7-2 defeat by Aston Villa and after four games have the joint second-worst defensive record in the top flight.
Of course, it is far too early to be talking about a shift of power from the red to the blue half of Merseyside, but Everton’s invigorating football so far and Liverpool’s fragility have certainly heightened interest in Saturday’s clash outside of the city itself.
Calvert-Lewin has been grabbing the headlines with his six league goals so far but it is Everton’s new signings who have transformed Ancelotti’s side from the sterile under-achievers they were last season into potential top-four candidates.
Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez has been a revelation so far in an attacking trio alongside Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison while the industry of Brazilian Allan and the power of Abdoulaye Doucoure have turned Everton’s midfield into a formidable unit.
“Saturday’s derby against the Reds comes at the best moment. Liverpool are an injured beast after their defeat at Villa.”
