- Liverpool’s 1.91 price for this weekend’s Merseyside rivalry match makes them narrow favorites against an Everton side who won two of the last three WSL meetings, including a 2-0 victory at Anfield in May 2025.
- The Reds finished seventh and the Toffees eighth in the WSL 2024-25 season, being separated by just one point.
- Both teams are in good shape, with Liverpool integrating new signings and Everton under Sørensen’s possession-based system.
Gareth Taylor’s first assignment
The most eagerly anticipated fixture of the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League is certainly this Merseyside derby at Anfield, where Liverpool will seek to continue their Anfield hat-trick of women’s fixtures with a win. As part of our Liverpool (W) vs Everton (W) prediction, all eyes will be on Gareth Taylor and how his approach influences the classic rivalry.
Gareth Taylor arrives at the club on the back of trophy-winning spells at Manchester City Women and has already made his mark on the team’s shape and style of play.
The Liverpool women have adopted a back-three system for most of their preseason matches, with Taylor emphasizing a structured, possession-based build-up, wide wing-backs and set-pieces. These elements of the system are already well known to his players, who are adept at controlling the tempo and possession share.
The Reds' build-up will focus around the reliable Marie-Therese Höbinger, Fūka Nagano and Ceri Holland as the engine room, who can also deal well with transitions from defence into attack.
The departure of 2024-25 top scorer Olivia Smith will leave a big hole in the offensive play, so Taylor will be looking to new signing Sam Kerr to take charge of the forward line. This Liverpool (W) vs Everton (W) preview suggests that Kerr will play a vital role in determining the Reds’ attacking threat.
Kerr has the ability to find space in the box and score goals, but will need time to bed into her new team’s system. Kirsty Maclean can be a handful in wide areas and adds another touch of Rangers’ creativity to Liverpool’s engine room.
Sørensen has built a solid base
Brian Sørensen extended his contract with Everton after building a stable, possession-based side.
Sørensen’s Toffees play a possession-based game, but it is built upon the foundations of a compact back four that allows a proactive, man-to-man pressing system to function.
The quality of their pressing has improved in the past year, while the main focus of the build-up remains getting the ball into wide areas to exploit defensive gaps.
The attacking side of the game is spearheaded by Kelly Gago and Honoka Hayashi, who were among Everton’s top scorers last term.
Katja Snoeijs is the clinical finisher up front, while Veatriki Sarri and the Holmgaard sisters provide width and energy. Youngster Issy Hobson has impressed during the summer and could have a key role in Everton’s defensive setup.
This Liverpool (W) vs Everton (W) prediction also considers how Everton’s balance between youth and experience could shape their performance in such a crucial fixture.
Derby game could go either way
The two teams are closely matched in terms of squad quality, so there is no clear favourite for this game - though Liverpool are narrow favourites and enjoy the home advantage. According to our Liverpool (W) vs Everton (W) betting tips, a tight and dramatic contest is expected. So we’re going for the Draw at 3.30, but as both sides have a recent history of scoring in this fixture, the Both Teams to Score market appeals even more.
The weather forecast for Anfield on Sunday is cool and cloudy, with the threat of light rain that could affect the pace of the match. But it will be intense as usual in a derby where set-piece moments could be crucial.
Liverpool’s playing style is deliberate and Everton’s is more aggressive, so we’re expecting a chess match where turnovers in midfield will decide the outcome.
