Good day to you, and welcome to another PES Predicts. It seems like an awfully long time ago we last did this, but we’ve come back to a cracker – the Merseyside Derby. Can PES2017 guide us towards who will win this iconic match?
Sometimes known as the friendly derby, I doubt this will be a blood and thunder affair but it should be high on quality. For Liverpool, Henderson and Lallana are missing so I’ve banked on Coutinho dropping into midfield and Origi coming in up front. It’s that or Lucas playing. For Everton, I’ve gone for Mirallas in for Calvert-Lewin and the stricken Seamus Coleman has been replaced by Mason Holgate. Funes Mori is out for the season if you missed that news in the week.
The players are out at a sun-drenched Anfield and Peter Drury is telling us what a wonderful occasion this match always is. The jury is out on that, Peter. No pun intended. Beglin picks Morgan Schneiderlin as the key man today, which I guess makes some sense if Everton want to stop Liverpool playing. Blimey, Everton should be ahead inside 5 minutes. Mirallas cuts inside and fizzes one across the box into the old corridor of uncertainty. Lukaku gets too much of a good touch on it though and it goes wide. You know what I mean. Liverpool come storming back with a corner, but Origi heads wide.
An unbelievable pass from young Tom Davies gets Mirallas in behind Clyne, he is on his favoured right but Mignolet parries it away, with Klavan getting it away before Lukaku can tap in. But straight down the other end, Liverpool lead! Can and Origi exchange passes, the German finds the onrushing Wijnaldum and he smashes home from the edge of the box. He loves a home goal does Gini, and Liverpool lead after 18 minutes.
Liverpool playing much the better now, with a 20 plus pass move ending with Can seeing his volley tipped behind by Robles. The corner comes to nothing, though Mirallas does skin Clyne for about the 3rd time today already. Clyne does much better going forward, though, but his pull back is steered wide by Wijnaldum. That’s half time. Beglin says the game plan has paid off and the counter attack was beautifully executed. Can’t argue, Jim.
Everton kick us off but goodness me, they’ve given it away. Origi makes it 2-0. I can’t tell you how bad this is. Jagielka looks crestfallen, as well he might, as he was very easily dispossessed, Origi was left one on one with Robles and he scored easily. Koeman would be furious if he wasn’t permanently trying to hold in a smirk.
Nearly 3-0, Jagielka and Robles go for the same ball before Williams clears it. Keystone cops back there. James McCarthy is on for Davies, which might help but probably won’t. I can almost feel Roy Keane’s anger rising that McCarthy is magically fit again. Also, here’s Gareth Barry, for Gueye. Come on Ronald, for goodness sake. Having said that, Barry just smashed a half-volley wide from the edge of the box. They badly need a goal from somewhere. Firmino then fizzes one wide at the other end. Barkley is off for Aaron Lennon with 20 minutes to go.
It’s all Liverpool really, though. Can is denied from the edge of the box by Robles and Mane puts the rebound wide. It’s his last action, as Daniel Sturridge is on for him. Start the injury clock. Well, there’s 3 minutes of it. Liverpool keeping the ball, the fans give the “ole!” Ojo is on for Firmino just to give the young lad some minutes. Oh, crikey. Sturridge makes it 3 and he’s doing that bloody dance in my living room. It’s a very good goal in fairness. Can and Wijnaldum play a one-two into the area, Wijnaldum does a lovely little flick round the defender and Sturridge can’t miss. He’s not even injured. It’s the last action of the game. Beglin says it’s all about pride and Liverpool’s attitude was spot on. Not a word on Everton though, who were rank after an early flurry. But don’t worry Everton fans, it’s only PES!
PES Predicts: Liverpool 3 – 0 Everton