This week I spoke to Peter Mcpartland (@PED7), host of The Blue Room (@TheBlueRoomEFC) on City Talk. We discussed the derby and looked at potential match-winners, ahead of an early season derby which suddenly feels VERY important for both team’s respective campaigns.
To start off, can you tell us about the main dangers Everton can pose to Liverpool on Saturday, and who you think the real danger-men for your side are?
Although we are conceding goals we are also scoring plenty too and they are not necessarily linked, so if we can tighten up we’ve got a chance of winning every game.
I think our big player can be Seamus Coleman, he is so important going forward and also stopping attacks with his pace.
Would you agree with the consensus that Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez appear to be orchestrating a resurgence of football on Merseyside, and if so, how important is it for the city to have two clubs competing at the top level?
Our managers are at the forefront of modern football, a game that uses not only science and statistics but also good man management.
It’s painfully obvious that when one team is doing well the fans of the other demand their club to react and the city was buzzing last season which is great for everyone.
It’s obviously been quite a while since Everton won at Anfield in the league, and at the risk of jinxing that we’ll discuss it. How confident are you of Roberto Martinez being the man to end that run?
If Martinez can’t end it no one will. He wants players to go out and attack, take chances and win games. Although it back fired last year, it did get us a win at Old Trafford and gave us a pretty good record against the top 4 so I’m sure he’ll sort it.
Neither side has been particularly good, so far this year…who would you say has the upper hand going into the game?
Liverpool are at home so naturally them, but also until we get the monkey off our back that is 15 years without a win it’ll always be Liverpool regardless of form.
Will the form book potentially be thrown out of the window on Saturday, and could we see any surprises in the game? Even, if somehow hell freezes over… a clean sheet for either side?
Ha what form? I think both teams will be cautious but I still think it’ll have goals, it could be a season springboard if one side wins it.
When looking at the current Liverpool squad (you can be nice, if you really want), who do you feel poses your side the most threat on Saturday?
Sturridge always seems to score past us but Sterling is potentially world class and can hurt any team. Gerrard always saves his best games for us too.
Finally, can we get a score prediction from you?
I’ll play safe and say 2-2.
There is a recurring thing with these weekly features I do, which seems to be me predicting a win. Liverpool haven’t been very good recently, and this is a highly charged derby with the opposition will be right up for. With that in mind… 3-1 Liverpool.
It’s what we do, isn’t it?
