Liverpool in peak form for trip to tackle Toffees at Goodison

Everton boss Rafael Benitez has backed himself to get the club’s season back on track after a poor run of results but that turnaround in form is unlikely to start when they host their manager’s former club Liverpool in the Merseyside derby this week.

Benitez raised eyebrows when he took charge at Goodison Park, having previously led their rivals Liverpool to Champions League and FA Cup glory, and he is not currently popular in the blue half of Merseyside.

Sunday’s 1-0 loss to struggling Brentford made it seven matches without a win for the Toffees and players were met with angered reactions when they went over to their visiting fans at the end of the match.

Everton are now only six points above the relegation places going into the clash with Liverpool this week.

Injuries have hampered the Toffees - key forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin and industrious midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure have spent a fair amount of time on the sidelines recently - while Richarlison was suspended for the game against Brentford.

But even with the energetic Brazilian back in their ranks for the game against the Reds, Everton are still significantly short of the quality needed to match their rivals.

Liverpool are flying with eight wins in 13 matches in the Premier League this campaign, losing only once, and they have come out on top in four of their last five assignments.

And in each of those four victories they have won by at least two goals against Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Porto and Southampton.

They have been firing on all fronts, having also won all five of their group games in the Champions League this season, and Jurgen Klopp has his side back to their very best.

With that in mind, another comfortable victory looks on the cards and Liverpool are worth backing at -1 goal on the handicap, meaning they have to win by at least two goals for the bet to succeed.

In Mohamed Salah, who has bagged 11 goals and eight assists in his 13 league fixtures this season, they are primed with arguably the division’s best player right now and are coming up against a team desperately out of form.

As well as ripping apart Arsenal at Anfield, they have also enjoyed some huge wins on the road including 5-0 thrashing away to both Watford and Manchester United .

Everton have not beaten Liverpool at Goodison Park since 2010 and this game looks as though it will go only one way. STAT Liverpool have scored two or more goals in each of their last 17 matches in all competitions

Liverpool -1 on ssssshandicap

[LF]