Liverpool V Everton Fixed Odds Betting Preview

While making progress in the Champions League has been fairly simply for Liverpool, actually qualifying for the same competition next season is proving far more troublesome. The latest setback came at Anfield on Wednesday evening. The failure of Benitez's side to break down a doggedly defensive Rovers means Liverpool will go into Sunday's showdown with Everton seven points behind their neighbours in the battle for fourth place in the Premiership. Although the Merseysiders were woeful in midweek, the good news for Reds fans is many times this season have their team gone from dreadful to great. A recent example was the win against Leverkusen that came on the back of a defeat at Newcastle. Of course this doesn't necessarily mean we will be treated to a vintage Liverpool performance against Everton, and investing in the hosts at odds-on is not advised. That said the Blues have endured a tough time of late, losing three of four games. Despite the lack of points, David Moyes knows a win at Anfield would put them 11 points clear in fourth place. Ironically should Liverpool finish fifth but win in Europe, Everton would most likely be denied entry into the Champions League. Attempting to identify a potential winner of this Merseyside derby does not look an easy task. Liverpool are too unpredictable, while Everton may be in pole position for fourth spot but have not looked the same team since they lost Thomas Graveson. What does appeal is a look at the bookings markets on the spread.Normally a Merseyside derby can be a rather spicy affair at the best of times, but with the added importance of Champions League qualification at stake - this is a match that will test the temperament of even the most mild mannered professional. Looking back at past five meetings between the two sides, on only one occasion has a referee shown less a low number of cards. For the record the previous make-ups (yellow=10pts, red=25pts) have been 50, 10, 60, 120, 70. A further appealing aspect about the bookings is Rob Styles is in charge. After a quiet first half of the season in which he wasn't brandishing the cards in a manner we have been used to, the past few games do suggest the old habits are returning. Since the end of February, Rob Styles has 21 yellows and one red in just four games - with nine cautions being shown in the Newcastle/Spurs cup tie last Sunday afternoon. That game wasn't particularly bad tempered either, and so a high make-up is not out of the question if Liverpool and Everton become embroiled in a major battle. There is unfortunately a rather large stumbling block for anyone looking to buy the bookings from the start and that is the quote of 56-60, which would look far more suitable for a live La Liga match than a Premiership encounter. Nevertheless, I am still prepared to recommend a minimum stake buy in anticipation of a busy afternoon for the referee in which at least one player may well see red.