The restart of the Premier League season continues this weekend with seven games taking place across Saturday and Sunday and there are some cracking encounters to get stuck into, including the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
It is, perhaps, quite fitting that the final game of the weekend is the 265th Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, who cannot be crowned champions just yet after Manchester City defeated Arsenal 3-0 at the Etihad on Wednesday.
Everybody knows it is only a formality until the Reds are confirmed as Premier League champions for the first time, with Jurgen Klopp’s men 22 points clear of the Citizens and requiring just two wins to clinch a first English title since 1990.
Liverpool have only lost one league game all season and they head to Goodison Park with 19 wins from their last 20 PL matches, while German maestro Klopp is unbeaten in his 10 games against Everton – winning seven and drawing three.
However, Carlo Ancelotti has revived Everton since taking charge in December 21 last year, lifting the club to 12th position, although they are without a win in three and were thumped 4-0 at Chelsea before the season was suspended.
The Toffees haven’t beaten Liverpool in the Premier League since 2010 and Ancelotti’s men are 9/2 outsiders to secure the three points.
Relegation Worries and European Places Up For Grabs
Elsewhere, the action actually gets underway on Saturday at 12:30 with relegation-threatened Watford welcoming high-flying Leicester City to Vicarage Road.
The Hornets are sitting 17th in the table, only outside of the bottom three on goal difference, while the Foxes occupy third place and are on course to securing Champions League football (2/15) for next season.
At 15:00, Brighton take on Arsenal at the AMEX Stadium. The Seagulls have yet to win in 2020 and are just two points above the drop zone, while the Gunners lost on their return on Wednesday and are eight points adrift of Chelsea in fourth.
In the 17:30 game, West Ham United go up against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium before Saturday’s action is wrapped up with the 19:45 clash at the Vitality Stadium, as Bournemouth take on Crystal Palace.
Moving back to Sunday, the first match of the day is the 14:00 kick-off between Newcastle United and Sheffield United at St James’ Park, which is expected to be a low-scoring affair. The under 1.5 goals bet at 33/20 is tempting here.
The Magpies are eight points clear of the bottom three, suggesting they are already safe, while the Blades are in sixth place after drawing 0-0 at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.
Speaking of Villa Park, Dean Smith’s men are back in action at 16:15 when they play host to Chelsea, who will be looking for all three points to keep themselves in fourth position.
The Blues were on a three-game unbeaten run before the break and they are 10/19 favourites to claim the spoils on Sunday.