Everton vs Liverpool: Opposition Analysis | Seize the Day, in European Push!

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: James Tarkowski of Everton scores his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on February 12, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) | Getty Images It’s been a highly unpredictable season, in many ways and the fight for what appears to constitute a very large number of European places offers ever-changing fortunes, as the campaign draws to a close. The most optimistic cohort of Blues fans may have considered Everton to have had an outside shot at qualifying for the Conference League this term, on the back of the team’s rapid turnaround in form since David Moyes returned in January last year, but they would have been pretty small in number.

Still, the Toffees sit in eighth spot in the table, ahead of the weekend’s round of fixtures, which if the season ended then, would have been good enough for Europe. A point secured on the road last time out, late on against unlikely rivals Euro-rivals Brentford, meant the club kept pace with the West London minnows, extending their current strong run of form to 3 wins and a draw from the last five outings, maintaining momentum, and keeping spirits buoyant. Following three weeks of inactivity, the visitors started sluggishly, which dogged them again after halftime.

To rally from behind twice, having played poorly for close to half the match, speaks to the individual character possessed by many of the players – most notably Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has no quit in him – as well as the esprit de corps which has become evident on Moyes’ watch. Hosting city rivals Liverpool for the first time at their new stadium on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey, fans will trust those qualities to be on full display again on Sunday afternoon. Form If Arne Slot made winning the Premier League title at the first time of asking easy last term, then this season has been a rude awakening, one in which the Dutchman’s very future at the club will be in doubt when the powers-that-be at Anfield come to assess it.

At the end of the summer, Liverpool – champions by ten clear points and having spent almost €483m on reinforcements – were widely considered to be favourites for a repeat. It hasn’t quite worked out as planned. The club waved goodbye to an important player, in Luis Díaz, banking a tidy €70m for the left winger, who has since performed impressively at Bayern Munich , amassing 42 goal contributions in all competitions.