Paul Merson has admitted he would be "shocked" to see Everton walk away from Monday's Merseyside derby at Anfield with anything to show for it.
And the former Arsenal and England international holds the bold belief that Sean Dyche's side are the perfect opponents for the Reds to face after their recent slump in the Premier League.
Last weekend's 3-0 humbling at Molineux saw Jurgen Klopp become the first Liverpool manager in 11 years to lose three consecutive Premier League away games as their woes in the West Midlands added to earlier disappointment against Brighton and Brentford since the turn of the year.
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Meanwhile, the Blues ended their own lengthy string of poor performances as Dyche announced his arrival at Goodison Park with a well-deserved 1-0 victory over table-topping Arsenal, ensuring Everton are the city's in-form side heading into the 242nd Merseyside derby.
But Merson, who won two Division One titles during his 12-year spell at the Emirates, still favours Liverpool to edge their Merseyside counterparts and thinks the sustained attacking pressure will be too much for the Blues to withstand.
"I watched Liverpool the other day, and I thought they were better against Wolves than they were against Brighton,” wrote Merson in his Sportskeeda column. "If they’d made it 2-1, I think they would’ve got something out of it.
"Towards the end, however, I was very worried for Liverpool when they had the ball. They just didn’t have the fire in them. This is a good game for Liverpool. It’s the Merseyside derby, and the fans will be up for it. Everton will sit back and absorb the pressure. They’re going to work on getting a goal from a set piece. They’ll have ten men behind the ball and one up front."
The 54-year-old also believes Jordan Henderson and Fabinho should return to Klopp's starting XI, having both lost their places to Stefan Bajcetic and Naby Keita in recent weeks after a continuous struggle for form this season.
"I think Liverpool need a calm head with composure and experience," added Merson. "Fabinho hasn’t had the greatest of seasons in the Premier League, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back for this game alongside Thiago and Jordan Henderson.
"They’ve got experience, and you need seasoned players in a Merseyside derby. Liverpool’s defence has been all over the place this season, but Everton aren’t going to have much of a go at them. Liverpool will have to defend their set pieces because that’s what Everton will live on.
"I’d be shocked if Liverpool fail to win this game. Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Everton.”
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