Weekend Special Toffee Bites: Merseyside Derby edition

Your daily dose of Everton news and rumors

The first Merseyside Derby of the season is upon us and as always there’s plenty of talk going on behind the scenes and in front of the cameras.

Yesterday we had both managers give their pre-match press conferences -

• Marco Silva insists his brave Everton side have nothing to fear going to Anfield. [RBM]
• The manager had some good news on the injury front, and about Ademola Lookman too. [RBM]
• Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool presser was going well, until someone asked him about his midfield woes. [RBM]

A couple of excellent pieces here about Marco Silva and his ways at Everton.

• Silva and Marcel Brands have a really good working relationship, and it’s paying off for the Blues. [Independent]
• The manager is big on building relationships between the players, and there’s plenty of fun stuff going on. [Daily Mail]

While Brands and Silva have bought well over the summer, two of their best signings might just be Richarlison and Lucas Digne.

• An interview with the Brazilian forward’s father will tell you a bit more about the youngster than you knew. [Sport Witness]
• Richarlison remembers being a starstruck kid idolizing Neymar, and then he got selected to the same Brazil squad. [iNews]
• Lucas Digne is not fazed by the derby, having played for AS Roma against Lazio before. [The Mirror]
• The Frenchman is also looking forward to coming up against a certain Mo Salah, a former teammate. [ESPN]

With everyone looking forward to the game, there’s plenty of opinions going about.

• Everton great Neville Southall is concerned that the Toffees’ lack of a world-class striking option could hold them back tomorrow. [iNews]
• Here’s what the Royal Blue Mersey crew predict for tomorrow’s outcome. [RBM]
• Paul Merson, he who called Richarlison a waste of money, is sticking with his anti-Everton narrative in picking this score too. [Daily Star]
• Meanwhile, pundit Mark ‘Lawro’ Lawrenson is going up against boyhood Evertonian Dolph Lundgren (Drago, from the Rocky movies) - the actor is predicting a score Blues will love! [BBC]

• Turns out Apollo Creed Junior (actor Michael B. Jordan) is an Everton fan now too, thanks to fellow boxer and diehard Blue Tony Bellew. [Sky Sports]
• As you have no doubt been reminded again and again, the last time Everton won at Anfield was in 1999, and what a game that was, a duel fit for the Rocky movies in it’s own right. [Daily Mail]

Keep it here on Royal Blue Mersey for all the derby coverage, all in one place.

What To Watch

League leaders Manchester City take on AFC Bournemouth while Southampton host Manchester United - the Blues will be hoping both away teams lose so that they can maintain their sixth spot.

Midweek opponents Newcastle are at home against West Ham United, so that’s one to keep an eye on to see if the Toon rest any of their players.

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