Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in a must-win Merseyside derby of the Premier League on Monday. The Reds are nine points behind leaders Chelsea and need the three on offer at Goodison to keep the pressure on the league leaders.
While Arsenal might be suffering a December meltdown, Liverpool will not want to take that same route, even if they will be wary of facing a buoyant Everton. The Toffees beat Arsenal on Tuesday, coming from a goal down to top Arsene Wenger's side 2-1 and they will target another big scalp by beating Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
Here is a look at how the match might transpire:
First half: Liverpool make a fast start, attacking with pace, with Sadio Mane, in particular, proving to be a great menace to the Everton defenders. The former Southampton man comes close with a strike from distance, with the ball just whistling over the crossbar, before he turns provider to put Roberto Firmino through. The Brazilian, however, is denied by a fantastic save from Maarten Stekelenburg.
Despite the Liverpool pressure, Everton are the ones who take the lead, in the 21st minute, with Ross Barkley teeing up Romelu Lukaku, who smashes the ball into the net with his left boot. Liverpool are struggling now after conceding the goal, with a much more physical Everton side looking capable of going 2-0 up before halftime. That happens too, as Enner Valencia stands up a cross to the far post, which is headed down by Lukaku for Barkley to volley home with aplomb past Simon Mignolet, who can do little to stop the goal.
Second half: Klopp has a lot of work to do at halftime and it seems like his words have had an impact with Liverpool starting the second 45 with purpose and determination. Adam Lallana is getting into the game more and Mane, having faded after that strong start, looks a threat again. It is that combination that gives Liverpool their first goal, with Lallana chipping a ball over the Everton defence for Mane to square the ball and give Divock Origi a simple tap-in.
Liverpool are energised now with Everton dropping deeper and deeper in a bid to protect their lead. Jordan Henderson, Lallana and Firmino all have a go from distance, and just when the sense of frustration is growing amongst the away fans, Liverpool find the equaliser in the 78th minute. It is a wonderfully-carved out goal too – Henderson plays a cross-field ball to find James Milner on the left, with the veteran picking out Lallana on the edge of the area. With everyone expecting a shot, Lallana, instead, plays a wonderful through ball to Firmino, who finished into the low corner.
With over ten minutes remaining, Liverpool now look capable of finding the winner and all three points and they nearly do that when Origi heads off a corner, with Stekelenburg forced to make a big save. Everton then almost pull off a dramatic winner in the third minute of stoppage time substitute as Gerard Deulofeu runs through, but his strike is weak and Mignolet has a standard save to make.
