Premier League

Everton v Liverpool: 22 Stats To Know Ahead Of Merseyside Derby

Liverpool visit Everton in the Premier League on Wednesday night – read a statistical preview of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

The rearranged game – which was postponed in December due to adverse weather conditions – is set to kick off at 7.30pm GMT.

Here are 22 facts and figures to know ahead of the 245th official meeting between the Reds and Blues…

This match is Liverpool’s 122nd and last visit to Goodison Park, including two FA Cup semi-final appearances.

This will be the latest in a season that the first derby of a campaign has been played. The previous latest was in 2005 when the Reds won 3-1 at Goodison on December 28.

Liverpool have won 99 matches against Everton in all competitions (drawn 77, lost 68). If the Reds win on Wednesday, it will be the fifth time an English league side has beaten another on 100 occasions since the formation of the Football League in 1888 (Arsenal 111 v Everton, Manchester United 106 v Aston Villa, Liverpool 103 v Aston Villa and Arsenal 100 v Manchester City).

To date, the clubs have won 41 times apiece in their clashes at the current home of the Blues, with 37 draws.

Liverpool have only lost two of their last 27 Premier League games against Everton (won 12, drawn 13), with those defeats coming in February 2021 (2-0 at Anfield) and April 2024 (2-0 at Goodison Park).

Everton v Liverpool is the fixture to have seen the most red cards (23) and been drawn 0-0 the most (12) in Premier League history.

Liverpool have scored more 90th-minute winners against Everton in the competition than any other side against a single opponent (five).

Everton last won consecutive league Merseyside derbies in the 1984-85 campaign.

Liverpool’s loss in this fixture last season ended a 12-game unbeaten away run in the Premier League against Everton (won three, drew nine). They have not lost consecutive visits to Goodison Park since a run of three between 1992 and 1994.

The Reds are unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League games (won 14, drawn five). On both previous occasions they have gone into an away league game against Everton on an unbeaten run of 19+ matches, they have lost (1-0 in October 1978 while on a 23-game run and 1-0 in March 1988 when on a 31-game run).

This is Arne Slot’s first meeting with Everton as Liverpool head coach. Only one Reds boss has won their first ever league Merseyside derby when that match has come away from home, with Kenny Dalglish overseeing a 3-2 victory in September 1985.

The Reds are the only side across the top four tiers of English football who remain unbeaten away from home this season (played 12, won nine, drawn three). Only in 1987-88 (15) and 2019-20 (13) have they enjoyed a longer away unbeaten run from the start of a top-flight campaign.

Liverpool rank top in the Premier League for goals (56), xG (54.7), shots (411), shots on target (159), and big chances (100) this season. They have also spent 47 per cent of their games in the lead, the highest percentage of any side in the division this term.

This is just the third time in the Premier League that Liverpool are facing Everton while top of the table at the start of the day. The others were a 5-2 win and a 0-0 draw in 2019-20, with the Reds going on to win the title that season.

David Moyes won three of his 22 Premier League Merseyside derbies in charge of Everton between 2002 and 2013 (drew seven, lost 12). This is his first match against Liverpool as Toffees boss since a goalless draw at Anfield in May 2013.

Moyes will be taking charge of a game against Liverpool for the 43rd time in his career. Only seven men have ever managed against the Reds more often.

Everton have won their last three Premier League games by an aggregate score of 8-2 – it’s as many wins as they had in their previous 21 league games, and as many goals as they had scored in their previous 14.

Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest (10 each) have kept more Premier League clean sheets than Everton this season (nine), with the Toffees recording shutouts in each of their last two games.

Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 21 goals in Liverpool’s 12 Premier League away games this season (13 goals, eight assists). It’s the joint-most by a player on the road in a single campaign in the competition’s history, level with Andrew Cole in 1993-94 (12 goals, nine assists).

Ryan Gravenberch can make his 50th league appearance for the Reds.

Luis Diaz could make his 100th start for Liverpool in all competitions.

Alisson Becker has kept seven clean sheets in his 10 appearances against Everton – all in the league.

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Premier League

Ighalo: Money Was The Real Reason I Left Watford For China

Former Super Eagles and Manchester United striker, Jude Odion Ighalo, has revealed the reason he left Watford for Chinese Super League side, Changchun Yatai, according to Soccernet.ng.

The 36-year-old achieved his lifelong dream of playing in the English Premier League in 2014 when he joined Watford from Granada.

Ighalo helped the Hornets gain promotion to the English top-flight after scoring 20 goals and providing three assists in 35 EFL Championship games.

The following season, he scored 15 Premier League goals, which saw him earn a move to Changchun Yatai.

Speaking on the Echo Podcast, the 2019 AFCON Golden Boot winner revealed he went to China for the money since he had already accomplished his dream of playing in the English Premier League.

“I was 27 at the time. I’d fulfilled my personal dream of playing in the English Premier League. When I was growing up in Ajegunle, I didn’t even know I’d get to the level I got to.

“I just wanted to make a few bucks to change my family and make them proud, alongside a dream to play in the Premier League because I watched the league a lot. It’s the most viewed in the World.

“Back then, we used to pay to sit at the viewing centre, lapping each other to watch the television.”

“The dream already came true for me, so when the offer from China came, I said it was an opportunity to make money, and I decided to grab it.

“The club already accepted the offer without my consent because it was good money for them. They accepted £20m, because no team would pay that.

“I signed a four-year contract with Changchun Yatai, but I played two years there before moving to Shanghai Shenhua, with even more money because I did so well, scoring 36 goals in 53 or 54 games for the initial two years.

“I played one year at Shanghai before going on loan to Manchester United,” the Al-Wehda striker concluded.

Ighalo eventually returned to the English Premier League in 2020 when Manchester United came calling. The Red Devils were ravaged by injuries at the time and decided to make a loan move for the Nigerian forward.
Without hesitation, the former Udinese striker jumped at the chance to play for his dream club, even taking a wage cut.

In his time at Old Trafford, he scored five goals in nineteen outings for the Record English Premier League Champions.

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Premier League

Transfer Tension: Liverpool Ready £120M Record Bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak

Liverpool are making serious transfer waves this summer — and the name at the top of their list is none other than Alexander Isak.

According to multiple sources, Liverpool have reconfirmed their intention to make a club-record £120 million bid for the electric Swedish striker, pending any shift in Newcastle United’s firm stance. As of now, the Magpies continue to insist that Isak is “not for sale”, but Liverpool’s persistence suggests this transfer saga is far from over.

Klopp’s Dream Forward?

After a season of attacking inconsistencies, Liverpool are looking to inject fresh firepower into their frontline. Isak, with his blend of pace, technical quality, and lethal finishing, has emerged as one of the most complete young strikers in Europe.

Isak scored 21 Premier League goals last season, helping Newcastle secure a strong finish and remain competitive in a challenging domestic campaign. His ability to lead the line while linking up play makes him an ideal fit for Liverpool’s evolving attacking style.

£120 Million: A Statement of Intent

A £120 million package would not only be a club-record signing for Liverpool, surpassing the £85 million paid for Darwin Núñez, but it would also test Newcastle’s financial resolve, especially amid ongoing concerns around Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

With Saudi-backed Newcastle fighting to keep their top stars and Liverpool eager to rebuild under Arne Slot, this could be the transfer showdown of the summer.

Why It Matters

✅ Liverpool chasing a marquee striker
✅ Newcastle determined to keep their star
✅ Record-breaking bid in the making
✅ Isak’s future set to dominate headlines

⚽ Will Newcastle hold firm or will Isak become Liverpool’s new number 9?

Follow the latest updates and transfer twists only on Sports Market International.

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Premier League

ON THIS DAY: The N’Golo Kanté Masterclass That Defined a Chelsea Era

On this day in 2016, Chelsea pulled off one of the greatest transfer masterstrokes in Premier League history — signing N’Golo Kanté from Leicester City for a modest £30 million.

At the time, Kanté had just helped Leicester achieve the unimaginable: winning the Premier League in fairytale fashion. Yet few would have predicted just how much the tireless Frenchman would go on to define Chelsea’s modern success story.

The Engine of Stamford Bridge

From the very first whistle in Chelsea blue, Kanté became the heart and lungs of the team. In just 190 Premier League appearances for the Blues, he amassed an incredible 512 tackles and 351 interceptions — numbers that only scratch the surface of his influence.

Whether it was breaking up attacks, launching counter-attacks, or covering spaces no other midfielder could reach, Kanté wasn’t just playing football… he was redefining it.

A Trophy Cabinet to Match His Work Rate

Kanté’s impact wasn’t just statistical — it was silver-lined. During his time at Stamford Bridge, he collected six major trophies, including the Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League, Super Cup, Club World Cup, and the ultimate prize, the UEFA Champions League in 2021.

His performances in the Champions League were legendary. Named Man of the Match in both legs of the semi-final and the final, Kanté was the unstoppable force behind Chelsea’s second European crown, running games from midfield with elegance, grit, and that ever-present smile.

More Than Just a Player

Beyond the numbers and the medals, Kanté became a cult hero — admired not just for his footballing brilliance but for his humility and quiet leadership. He was the player every manager dreamed of, every teammate relied on, and every fan adored.

As we remember this signing today, it’s a reminder that sometimes, football isn’t about flashy transfers or viral moments — it’s about finding a player who transforms your team through sheer work rate, professionalism, and heart.