Spring is in the air, The longer nights have returned, the sun is shining, and for the first time in four years Evertonians are not haunted by the spectre of relegation.
The 18-day gap since the West Ham game has allowed everyone to breathe and take stock after a winter resurgence under David Moyes pulled them well away from danger.
Though, remarkably, Everton could have lost every game since Sean Dyche was sacked and none of the bottom three would have more points, showing how weak the newly-promoted sides are again this year.
But even so, the unbeaten run has allowed Everton fans to focus more on the long Goodison farewell and hopefully a brighter future at Bramley-Moore Dock, which hosted its second test event last month.
There are still big games to play of course, starting with a daunting trip to Anfield. We have seen too many defeats on the other side of Stanley Park to expect anything different, but at least the Toffees go there knowing another loss will not put their top flight status at risk. Therefore they should be able to play with a greater freedom, something they have been unable to do for the past three seasons.
Wednesday also marks the start of a tough April that features games against the current Premier League top five (almost in order). If relegation was still an issue that would be very daunting indeed. But as Moyes said in his press conference, the players should relish the chance to prove themselves against the best sides in the country having ensured they will belong in the same league as them next season.
Previous meeting
Everton 2-2 Liverpool, 12 February 2025
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
You only have to go back seven weeks to the previous meeting, and what a meeting it was. On a raucous night under the lights at Goodison Beto put the Toffees in front, only for Alexis Mac Allister to level before the break. Mo Salah thought he had won it for Liverpool before James Tarkowski scored a goal for the ages.
Team news
Everton will assess Vitalii Mykolenko after the full-back picked up a thigh injury playing for Ukraine.
Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil are still out but have resumed training as Everton’s injury problems finally look like easing.
Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are available after late cameos against West Ham last time out, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala out longer term.
What they said
Everton manager David Moyes: “Liverpool’s league position shows how they are playing. They’ve had a couple of tough games but that can happen. It’s a big game. It’s always been incredibly difficult to go to Anfield and get a result. But, we’ve got an opportunity to try again. It would be huge for us as a club to get that. It is not something we have done often.
We might be further away from Liverpool than we have ever been at the moment. When we left here, we were much closer to Liverpool, we were competitive, competing around the same areas in the league. At the moment it is probably the biggest gulf between the two clubs.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot: “I expect the same [as the Goodison derby]. But with one difference: that every time the Everton players do something well, they don’t get the cheers and the reactions from 50,000 people - I don’t know how many can go in at Goodison Park.
“Our players will get that reaction after every tackle they make, after every pass they do and that is a different emotion. Football-wise I expect the same because this is what Everton have done in the last nine or 10 games since David Moyes is in charge.
“They didn’t lose one football game in the last nine Premier League games, so it would be a surprise if they are going to do something different - and we are top of the league, so it would be strange if we were going to change something as well.”
Final word
Everton have all too often players with fear at Anfield, because of their poor record, Liverpool’s form or the weight of relegation. But with their top-flight status all but secured this is a chance to show a touch more ambition than previous visits across the park and try and play on any Liverpool uncertainty triggered by back-to-back defeats by PSG and Newcastle. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? We have suffered pretty much every type of defeat there is.