Paul Merson has predicted Liverpool to lose when they travel to Everton on Saturday afternoon for a Premier League clash.
The Reds go into the Merseyside game on the back of a thumping 3-0 home win over Manchester City in the first leg of a quarter-final Champions League tie.
They face a quick turnaround ahead of their trip to Goodison Park and manager Jurgen Klopp has already voiced his frustration at the fixture scheduling.
Liverpool’s domestic match with bitter rivals Everton is sandwiched between the European doubler header with Man City and they travel to the Etihad Stadium next Tuesday.
Sky Sports pundit has tipped Klopp to name a weaker side at the weekend and edged towards Everton picking up a narrow 1-0 win in his prediction.
Liverpool have a 10-point cushion over fifth-placed Chelsea in the hunt for the Premier League’s top four, but have played a game more.
“Liverpool worked hard the other day [against Man City] so if Jurgen Klopp goes and plays a full team I would be shocked,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“They’re already in the Champions League next season in my opinion, they’re 10 points clear of Chelsea going into the weekend.”
OPINION
Liverpool certainly need one eye on their return clash with Man City as that tie is not over despite the comprehensive win, but have a league fixture first. The club’s supporters will be desperate to get one over on their rivals and it’s important they don’t let Chelsea get a sniff in the race for the top four. Liverpool have seen big leads slip away before in the past and a defeat to Everton could see Chelsea move to within four points if they win games in hand. Klopp has the squad to make a few rotations and they should still have enough to put aside an Everton team that look very mediocre this season.