Key Takeaways
- Liverpool still lean on Mohamed Salah’s goals to paper over cracks in midfield and defence.
- Club chiefs believed last season’s title-chasing squad was good enough, but form says otherwise.
- Everton enter Goodison Park believing they can punish their neighbours’ weak spine.
Jurgen Klopp’s men escaped plenty of sticky moments last season thanks to a blistering run from Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s 18 goals before January dragged the Reds into the title race and masked deeper issues on the pitch.
Behind the scenes, Anfield bosses thought the same midfield and centre-back unit that lifted the trophy two years earlier could still do the job. Early games this season show that faith was misplaced. The engine room looks slow, and the back line leaks chances.
On Saturday, Everton sense blood. Sean Dyche’s side have tasted just one derby win since 2010, yet they see a Liverpool side short on pace and confidence. If Salah does not produce another moment of magic, the Blues believe they can finally turn Goodison into a party zone.