It’s the first Merseyside derby of the 2025/26 season as a rampant Liverpool face a confident Everton at Anfield on Saturday, then on Sunday, the latest chapter of the master versus apprentice saga takes centre stage at the Emirates Stadium, when Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal collide with Pep Guardiola’s Man City in a mouth-watering showdown.

Event # 1 – EPL – Liverpool vs Everton – 6:30 AM

The 2025/26 edition of the Merseyside derby takes place this Saturday morning when the reigning EPL champions, and fast starting Liverpool, play host to resurgent and confident Everton in an eagerly anticipated encounter. Liverpool leads the league table, having won all four matches played so far, while Everton are sitting seventh in the table, having also played four matches so far. With that said, Liverpool’s perfect start to the season has not been as convincing as they would have liked, having scored five goals at or beyond the 88th minute, and this has seen the Reds grab wins out of nowhere, including a 92nd minute winner on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid in mid-week champions League action. Indeed, Liverpool have been almost impregnable at Anfield against Everton, having lost just once in their last 28 home clashes across all competitions (17 wins, 10 draws). Additionally, they have won the last four in a row against Everton at home since losing 2-0 in February 2021.

Everton, on the other hand, won’t be a pushover, not the least, because of their decent run of form recently. Three clean sheets in their last four matches, after starting the season with a loss at Leeds on the opening day, may suggest that Everton have rounded into form nicely, which may produce a blockbuster derby. However, worryingly for Everton, is the fact that their coach David Moyes’ personal away record at Liverpool makes for particularly grim reading, having never won at a Premier League game at Anfield in 20 attempts — the joint worst record of a manager at a single Stadium without winning. Amazingly, David Moyes has been beaten in each of his last nine visits to Anfield, with defeats coming while being in charge of Manchester United, West Ham, and Everton.

Key Stats

• Liverpool – Liverpool has lost just one of their last 28 home matches against Everton in all competitions and have won each of their last four such matches.

• Everton – Everton has won just two of their last 29 matches against Liverpool in the Premier League, home or away.

• Both sides – Liverpool has won nine of their last 11 home matches, while Everton has won six of their last 11 matches.

The betting tip: Liverpool win.

Event # EPL – Arsenal vs Man City – 10:30 AM

The latest chapter of the master versus apprentice saga takes centre stage in London on Sunday, when Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal collides with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the standout fixture in the Premier League this weekend. Indeed, matches between both teams have carried a fierce edge in recent times, with Arsenal and Man. City fighting for the title in two of the past three seasons, although Arteta and Arsenal have had to yield to his former mentor on both occasions.

Arsenal sits second in the league standing, with nine points heading into this vital clash, three clear of City, who find themselves in eight place. Arsenal’s recent form suggest they are in fine form, having secured three wins from their opening four matches, including a convincing 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in their last outing, with their only loss of the season coming against the reigning champions Liverpool, away from home. Manchester City, on the other hand, have had a mixed bag of results, with two losses in their last four Premier League games, including a surprising 0-2 defeat at home to Tottenham. Indeed, this inconsistency might give the Gunners, Arsenal, the edge, especially if they can exploit Man City’s recent defensive vulnerabilities.

Key Stats

• Arsenal – Having defeated Man City 5-1 in their last meeting, Arsenal could win back to back matches against City for the first time since December 2015.

• Man City – Man. City has failed to beat Arsenal in their last five head to head clashes, losing two and drawing three.

• Both sides – Arsenal has had the upper hand in recent encounters with Man City, winning two of the last five, including a dominant 5-1 win in their most recent meeting.

The betting tip: Arsenal win.

Manchester City’s Brazilian midfielder Savinho (right) and Napoli’s Italian defender Leonardo Spinazzola fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League league stage football match between Manchester City and Napoli at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north-west England, on September 18, 2025. AFP

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