Everton seeks rare derby win over Liverpool as European hopes grow
LONDON (Reuters) – Everton will target a first victory over Liverpool in nearly seven years on Saturday knowing that if it succeeds, an unlikely pursuit of a top-four finish might start to be taken seriously.
Spurred by Romelu Lukaku’s goals, Ronald Koeman’s side has closed steadily on the battle for Champions and Europa League qualification and victory in Saturday’s early kickoff at Anfield would, temporarily at least, lift it into fifth spot.
Defeat, on the other hand, would leave Everton isolated in seventh and struggling to catch the teams above it.
Everton was beaten 1-0 at Goodison Park earlier this season when Sadio Mane’s stoppage-time goal ensured bragging rights remained in the red half of Merseyside.
Liverpool won the corresponding fixture 4-0 last season and Everton has to rewind all the way back to October 2010 for its last win over it arch-rival, a 2-0 victory at Goodison.
The Toffees’ last win at Anfield came in a feisty affair in 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored the winner and three players, including Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, were sent off.
Hardly the kind of run to inspire much hope, but Koeman’s side has lost only one of its last 12 Premier League games compared to Liverpool’s rather up-and-down form which has seen it win only three of its last 10.
Both sides were dealt blows in the build-up to the 228th Merseyside derby, with Everton defender Seamus Coleman breaking his leg during Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales.
Liverpool will also be missing Adam Lallana after he suffered a thigh injury playing for England and manager Juergen Klopp will be sweating on the return of Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho from international duty with Brazil.
Fourth-place Liverpool is six points above Everton, having both played 29 games – two more than the sides separating them, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Arsenal, level on 50 points with Everton after four defeats in five games, hosts third-place Manchester City on Sunday with its hopes of a 21st consecutive top-four finish in peril.
While Arsenal is looking over its shoulders, Jose Mourinho’s United, which has 52 points, hosts West Bromwich Albion and is looking up after going 18 matches unbeaten in the league.
While the teams below them jostle LEADING THE Premier League in team goals scored with 61, Roberto Firmino (center) and Liverpool enter Saturday’s Merseyside derby unbeaten in the last 12 games against Everton, with the Toffees’ last win at Anfield coming in 1999. for positions, Chelsea’s title march has been relentless and the Blues can tick off another three points with a victory over Crystal Palace.
Tottenham Hotspur, 10 points behind Antonio Conte’s side in second place, have not given up the chase but three points at a Burnley side which has won nine of 14 at Turf Moor will be paramount if they are to maintain their lingering hopes.
At the other end of the table, Swansea City hosts second-from-bottom Middlesbrough on Sunday while on Saturday Jermain Defoe, fresh from scoring on his international return with England, returns to the thankless task of trying to fire Sunderland off the foot of the table away at Watford.
Mid-season friendlies don’t make sense to Mourinho
Scheduling mid-season international friendlies alongside qualification matches makes no sense, says Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, after defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling picked up injuries on England duty last week.
Smalling started in England’s friendly defeat in Germany, but then had to pull out of the squad with a leg injury, while Jones suffered a toe injury in training.
With both players missing England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Lithuania, Mourinho questioned the need for friendlies during the domestic season.
“I am totally against the friendly matches,” he said. “I think friendly matches for the national team only make sense before the final phases.”
United will be without both defenders for Saturday’s Premier League clash against West Bromwich Albion, while midfielder Paul Pogba and captain Wayne Rooney are also on the treatment table.
Leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfielder Ander Herrera will miss the weekend’s game as they serve the final game of their suspensions.
With 13 United players involved in international games over the past week, Mourinho said his side was at a disadvantage against eighth-place West Brom.
“If you compare our situation with our opponents, West Bromwich Albion, only one player on international duty,” he added. “They had time to work, time to rest and prepare. It’s going to be hard.”
FIFA reveals proposed slots for 48-team 2026 World Cup
FIFA announced its proposed slot allocation for the expanded 48-team World Cup on Thursday, including an automatic place for Oceania, 16 places for Europe – up from 13 – and a six-team inter-zonal playoff tournament for two more spots.
The proposals will be submitted to the FIFA Council at its next full meeting in Bahrain in May for a final decision, FIFA said.
Under the proposal made by the FIFA Bureau for the enlarged tournament beginning in 2026, Europe would get 16 places, Africa nine, Asia eight, South America six, CONCACAF six and Oceania one, totaling 46 teams.
The host nation would qualify automatically and its slot would be taken from the allocation of its confederation.
The two remaining places would be decided by a six-team playoff tournament which would take place in the World Cup host nation, possibly in the November before the finals, FIFA said.