Clash of pride and passion as Liverpool hosts Everton

Clash of pride and passion as Liverpool hosts Everton. There is nothing like a derby in the English Premier League, and it doesn’t get bigger or fiercer than Liverpool versus Everton.

Once known as the friendly derby, the fixture has seen fans grow increasingly apart, partly due to Everton’s trophy drought since 1995

In that time, Liverpool has won two league crowns (2020 and 2025), two Champions League titles (2005 and 2019), one Fifa Club World Cup (2019), one UEFA Cup (2001), three UEFA Super Cups (2001, 2005 and 2019), three FA Cups (2001, 2006, and 2022), and six League Cups (1995, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2022, and 2024). It also added three Community Shields (2001, 2006, and 2022), although this no longer counts as a major honour.

Despite its ‘friendly nature’, this fixture has produced more red cards than any other in the Premier League era – 25 in total, with 14 shown to Liverpool.

It is also the longest-running top-flight derby in England, with the teams battling for pride and glory non-stop since 1962.

Liverpool enters the match with the only 100 per cent winning record across the top four divisions in England. Its attack has been on fire, but defensively, it remains vulnerable.

This is where Everton can capitalise, as it has a proven set-piece record, having scored 19 times from set plays last season.

Jack Grealish could also be a factor. The former Aston Villa midfielder has rediscovered his form since joining Everton on loan from Manchester City, adding flair and creativity to the attack. He was named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for August.

However, Everton manager David Moyes (main image), has a horrible record at Anfield, having not won there in 20 attempts, collecting six points and suffering 14 defeats.

The Scot has also gone 20 matches without a win at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, though he has managed seven draws there.

Liverpool will be overwhelming favourite to collect three points on Sept 20. As it is the early kickoff (7.30pm), the club could move six points clear of the chasing pack.

Record signing Alexander Isak, could be in line to make his Premier League debut for the Reds after playing against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.

Mohamed Salah will look to equal Steven Gerrard’s tally of nine derby goals after scoring eight times and claiming two assists from 13 games against the Toffees.

Arsenal, runner-up in the past three seasons, faces another tough match as Manchester City travels to London on Sept 21 (11.30pm).

Neither team can afford a draw, with Arsenal second after collecting nine points from 12. Manchester City has six points and sits eighth in the table – but was in scintillating form during its 3-0 demolition of Manchester United last week.

Erling Haaland has found his scoring boots and could once again be the player to hurt Arsenal.

Wolves to reward Pereira with new contract despite poor start

Wolves is bottom of the table after losing its opening four matches, but is winless in eight, stretching back to the last campaign. Despite the poor run of form, it is ready to offer Vitor Pereira a new contract until 2028.

Since June 2021, Wolves has had four managers – Bruno Lage (16 months), caretaker Steve Davis (one month), Julen Lopetegui (nine months), Gary O’Neil (16 months) and now Pereira, who has been in charge since Dec 17, 2024.

Wolves feels it should reward Pereira, who took over with the team second from bottom, but saved it from relegation with five games to spare.

Pereira ended last season with the highest win percentage of any Wolves manager in the Premier League. However, the current poor start has seen him slip below Lopetegui into second place (38.5 per cent compared to Lopetegui’s 39.1).

The 57-year-old Portuguese has had a fairly successful career, winning league titles in Portugal with Porto (2012 and 2013), in Greece with Olympiacos (2015), and in China with Shanghai SIPG (2018).

Although he has not won anything since the Chinese FA Supercup in 2019, Pereira has a knack for reaching finals, as he did with Corinthians and Flamengo in Brazil, where he qualified for four in 2022 and 2023, only to lose all of them.

Pereira can bring stability, and that is all Wolves will ask – for now.

Fixtures (Malaysian time)

Sept 20

Liverpool vs Everton (7.30pm)

Burnley vs Nottingham Forest (10pm)

Brighton vs Tottenham (10pm)

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (10pm)

Wolves vs Leeds (10pm)

Sept 21

Manchester United vs Chelsea (12.30am)

Fulham vs Brentford (3am)

Sunderland vs Aston Villa (3am)

Bournemouth vs Newcastle (9pm)

Arsenal vs Manchester City (11.30pm)