Everton's Challenge at Anfield: A New Hope for Moyes
Anfield: A Venue of Unfulfilled Aspirations for Everton and Manager David Moyes
Everton has struggled to secure a victory at Liverpool's home ground in the 21st century, with their only win in the past 25 years occurring during the Covid pandemic in 2021 under Carlo Ancelotti's management.
David Moyes has faced disappointment in all 22 of his attempts to win at Anfield with various clubs.
This Saturday, Everton will face a Liverpool team that is the reigning Premier League champion, enjoying an impeccable start to their season, and featuring British record signing Alexander Isak, who is set to make his top-flight debut.
However, could the Reds be more vulnerable than their current form indicates? Arne Slot's team has allowed a two-goal lead to slip on three occasions this season, although they managed to secure victory each time. Meanwhile, Everton has had a strong start of their own, bolstered by a significant summer recruitment drive.
BBC Sport explores the key themes ahead of Saturday's match.
Moyes' Record Against Top Clubs
Moyes has overseen 22 matches at Anfield during his career, recording seven draws and 15 losses. He has taken Everton to Anfield 13 times, suffering defeat on six occasions.
This record highlights Moyes' struggles when facing the top teams. He holds the Premier League record for the longest winless streak as a manager visiting the same side with one club, with similarly poor records against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
But what could change that record at the home of the reigning champions this Saturday?
Moyes has typically employed a 4-2-3-1 formation at Anfield, which has proven effective this season. The key difference this time is Everton's summer signings, with nine new players joining at a record net spend of £97 million.
The Toffees now possess the tools necessary to challenge their city rivals, particularly with new arrivals like Jack Grealish, who currently leads the Premier League in assists, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who is averaging more chances per game than any Everton player since last season.
Mike Richards from The Unholy Trinity Everton podcast expressed, "We often make the relatively short trip to Anfield with hope rather than expectation, burdened by the curse of our once home ground. However, this Everton team feels different from those in the past. There is a belief that this Everton attack can test any team in the league."
Will Everton Be Aggressive?
Everton has played proactively this season, achieving victories against Brighton and Wolves, while they were unfortunate to draw with Aston Villa last weekend after squandering several scoring opportunities.
After ranking 18th for goals from open play in the Premier League last season, scoring just 25, the Toffees have adopted an aggressive approach this year, with Iliman Ndiaye excelling in a new right-sided role.
Tyler Dibling, Everton's most significant summer signing at an initial £40 million, may also feature in the match.
However, will Everton truly unleash their attacking potential against a side that has scored 14 goals in six games across all competitions and boasts nearly £300 million worth of attacking talent acquired this summer? Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike are all in contention to start this weekend.
Historically, Moyes has opted for a more cautious approach when facing top teams. In the last 10 visits to Anfield under his management, Everton has scored only five goals, converting a mere 6.7% of their chances.
Regardless of Moyes' tactical choices on Saturday, these statistics must improve if Everton hopes to secure a long-awaited derby victory.
Richards noted, "We have sought moments of magic or individual brilliance at Anfield countless times, but we have often fallen short. Defeat has frequently felt inevitable after going behind, but that is no longer the case."
Are Liverpool More Vulnerable This Season?
Despite Liverpool's dominance in this fixture at home, Merseyside derbies tend to be closely contested, regardless of the venue.
In the last eight encounters where Moyes has led Everton to Anfield, there have been four draws and three matches decided by a single goal.
There is a growing sentiment that Liverpool, despite their formidable attacking talent, may be more susceptible than in previous seasons. The Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday marked the third instance this season where the Reds surrendered a two-goal lead. While they managed to find a winner, their defensive vulnerabilities could provide encouragement to opponents.
Although Slot's side currently sits atop the Premier League table, they have relied heavily on late goals, with their last five victories coming from strikes after the 82nd minute.
Interestingly, Everton has actually held a lead for 26 minutes longer than Liverpool in the Premier League this season, and an early goal could be pivotal at Anfield. All five of Everton's league goals have come within the first 55 minutes of matches, including three in the opening half hour, while Liverpool has yet to trail.
If Moyes' team can take and maintain an early lead, they will need to withstand the inevitable late pressure at Anfield, where Liverpool has scored 47 winners after the 90th minute in the Premier League era—at least 13 more than any other team.
Richards concluded, "There is a renewed belief among fans that we are a club moving in the right direction. Whether that will be enough on Saturday remains to be seen, but when fans and players are united, magical things can happen."