Why Everton have derby belief despite Anfield nightmares

Anfield . Everton is a place where success is frequently thwarted. And their manager, David Moyes, is similarly affected.

Everton have never won in front of a crowd at Liverpool’s home ground in the 21st century. Their only accomplishment there in the past 25 years was during Carlo Ancelotti’s Covid pandemic in 2021.

Moyes has 22 attempts to win a game at Anfield, with a number of clubs, unsuccessful.

Everton travel to a Premier League champions Liverpool side on Saturday, where Alexander Isak, a record signing from Britain, will make his debut in the top flight.

The Reds appear to be more vulnerable than their appearance suggests, though. Everton have had a strong start to the season following a summer of unprecedented recruitment, while Arne Slot’s side have let a two-goal lead slip on three occasions this year, albeit recovering each time.

“Liverpool have shown at times where they have been very good, but also at other times when they have shown some vulnerability when they have conceded goals,” said Moyes.

“Those moments will require us to make an effort to profit.” We played them at Anfield last year, but we lost to an offside goal, and we want to try to get them close once more, hoping that things will turn out well for us this time.

Over the course of his career, Moyes has drawn seven matches and lost 15. He has played 22 games at Anfield. He has lost six games while traveling with Everton on 13 occasions.

Why, then, could that record change on Saturday at the reigning champions’ home?

4-2-3-1, Moyes’ most frequently used formation at Anfield, which is the same tactical setup that has been so successful this season.

The biggest change has been made by Everton’s summer of significant signings, with nine players joining for a record-breaking $97 million net spend.

The Toffees now have the necessary weapons to defeat their city rivals, especially in the form of newcomers Jack Grealish, who has four assists in the Premier League and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has already averaging more chances per game than any other Everton player since the start of the previous season.

The Unholy Trinity Everton podcast’s Mike Richards remarked that Anfield was the club’s home from 1884 to 1892, saying that “so often we take the still relatively short trip, in hope rather than expectation, with the apparent curse that encases our one-time home still very much alive.

“Despite this, Everton feels a great deal further back than many of the previous teams’ perspectives.

Everton have won attracted attention this season with victories against Brighton and Wolves, but they were unlucky to draw with Aston Villa last weekend despite wasting numerous golden chances.

The Toffees have attacked with aplomb this season, with Iliman Ndiaye also playing a new right-sided role, despite ranking 18th overall in the Premier League in 2024-25 and scoring just 25 goals.

With an initial investment of £40 million, Tyler Dibling, Everton’s biggest summer signing, might also be a part.

Will the shackles actually break off for a side that has signed nearly £300m worth of attacking talent this summer and has scored 14 goals in six games across all competitions?

Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Isak are all in contention to start this weekend.

These statistics must change if Everton are to secure a crucial derby win, regardless of how Moyes chooses to play his side on Saturday.

We’ve searched for a moment of magic or a piece of individual brilliance at Anfield on numerous occasions, and Richards once said, “We simply fell short in that department.”

Despite Liverpool dominating this game on their own soil, derbies on Merseyside are frequently close indiferent of where they are played.

There have been four draws and three games with one goal settled when Everton and Moyes have visited their neighbors on eight occasions.

Despite possessing formidable firepower, it seems more vulnerable than ever.

The Reds allowed a two-goal lead to fall in the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday for the third time this season. They found a winner, once more, but their defensive fragility will encourage their foes.

An early goal at Anfield could be crucial because Everton have led the Premier League this season by 26 minutes over Liverpool.

Everton has scored five league goals in its first 55 minutes of games, with Liverpool only one behind in the opening five.

In the Premier League era, Liverpool have scored 47 winners after the 90th minute, or at least 13 more than any other team, if Moyes’ men can take and maintain an early lead.