'I won't be surprised': Paul Merson makes 'shocked' admission in Everton vs Liverpool prediction
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Liverpool will face off with Everton in the final Merseyside derby of the season on Sunday afternoon.Hugo Ekitike will miss the clash, leaving Arne Slot light of attacking options in what feels like a huge game for the Reds in the race for Champions League football.Anything but a win could see the likes of Chelsea, Brentford and the Toffees close the gap in the battle for fifth place, but Paul Merson would be ‘shocked’ if Liverpool picked up three points this weekend. Is a fifth-place finish enough to warrant Arne Slot remaining Liverpool manager?
Credit: Shaun Brooks/CameraSport/Getty Images Liverpool beating Everton would be shockingSpeaking to Sportskeeda about the upcoming set of Premier League fixtures, Merson urged Slot to give Rio Ngumoha a more prominent role in this clash.Liverpool have lost just two of their previous meetings with Everton in all competitions since 2010.But their steep decline this term means the former Arsenal and Middlesbrough player thinks this game will end 1-1.He stated: “For the first time in a long, long time, this is an even game! The way Liverpool are playing, you would be shocked if they beat Everton this weekend!“Slot took the easy way out by not starting with Ngumoha in the PSG game.
Liverpool need that away from home against Everton.“Liverpool still have good players and I won’t be surprised if they win this game. But something tells me that Everton will get a point.”Supercomputer predicts Everton vs LiverpoolAs well as Merson, all of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ian Wright and Roy Keane predict Liverpool will draw with Everton this weekend.It’s a sign of just how far the Reds have fallen under Slot in the 2025/26 season, given how dominant they have been in this tie in the past.Even Opta’s supercomputer thinks that Liverpool will struggle to come out on top in this fixture.Slot’s men are given a 36.3% chance of winning the game, while Everton are slight favourites at 37.3%Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox