Can buoyant Everton shake off Liverpool jinx at Anfield?

Everton go into Saturday's Merseyside derby looking for their first victory at Anfield since 1999 and their first win of any kind over Liverpool in six and a half years.

Yet Toffees fans could be forgiven for feeling a sense of optimism, with their team top of the form table in 2017 and plans for a new £300m stadium winning the backing of Liverpool City Council.

But how close are they to reclaiming supremacy on Merseyside?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Everton "have long been in the shadow of their cross-city rivals, and though plans for a brand new stadium accompany hopes of an assault on the top four, there is little sign that they will usurp Liverpool any time soon", says the Daily Telegraph.

"Nonetheless, this weekend could provide the best chance in years for Everton to win at Anfield."

Striker Romelu Lukaku is in prolific form, while the defence has conceded only seven goals in the league since the start of the year. Their rivals, on the other hand, are struggling.

"Liverpool have won only three league matches this year, scoring 15 goals but also conceding 15," notes the Telegraph. "Now without key man Adam Lallana as well as Jordan Henderson in midfield and little sign that their problems in goal or in defence are diminishing, they could be there for the taking on Saturday."

But they will have to overcome their demons if they are to scalp the Reds at home. Since Everton's last win at the ground of their local rivals, "Liverpool have endured varying stages of crisis, had key players sent off in the derby, finished the season below their rivals and been genuinely mediocre – and yet at no point have Everton looked likely winners at Anfield", says The Guardian.

"Everton have won only one of the past 20 league derbies and their record plus their performances at Liverpool suggests a mental barrier as much as a quality issue."

Manager Ronald Koeman also has injury problems to contend with. Seamus Coleman broke his leg in Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales, while James McCarthy also picked up an injury on international duty.

It is the same story for Argentinian defender Ramiro Funes Mori, injured on duty against Bolivia, reports the Daily Mail, and midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is set to miss out, too.

With Everton buoyant but depleted, most pundits back Liverpool to win. Paul Merson of Sky Sports and Mark Lawrenson of the BBC both predict Jurgen Klopp's side will triumph 2-0.