Everton aiming to end Anfield drought as Moyes faces Liverpool test

Everton travel to Anfield on Saturday with renewed belief they can finally end their long-standing derby drought against Liverpool. Everton have not won at Liverpool’s home ground in the 21st century; their only triumph there in the past 25 years came during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 under Carlo Ancelotti. Moyes has overseen 22 previous attempts against Liverpool with different clubs without success, leaving him with a daunting record at the stadium. Liverpool enter as reigning Premier League champions, having started the season in strong form, and the Reds could feature new signings such as Alexander Isak in what would be a high-profile top-flight debut for the striker. But questions remain about Liverpool's vulnerability this season and whether Everton can seize the moment.

BBC Sport examines the task facing Moyes and his squad, highlighting the manager's track record at Anfield and in away matches against big clubs. Moyes has managed 22 matches at Anfield across his career, with seven draws and 15 losses. He has traveled to Anfield with Everton 13 times, losing six. It is part of a broader pattern where a manager who has faced some of the league’s heftiest opponents has struggled to secure away results, underscoring the magnitude of the challenge Everton face this weekend.

Moyes’ approach could be shaped by a more ambitious Everton in recent windows. The Scot has tended to rely on a 4-2-3-1 structure away to top sides, a setup that has served him well at times this season as he blends solidity with counter-attacking threat. Everton’s summer transfer window brought nine new players, delivering a record net spend of about £97 million. The Toffees now possess more attacking options, with Iliman Ndiaye among those leading the line of new signings; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish are cited as influential arrivals in the current discussion, while Tyler Dibling could feature prominently after a club-record summer signing. Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are among those in contention to start, highlighting a more dynamic forward line than in recent campaigns.

“So often we take the still relatively short trip, in hope rather than expectation, with the apparent curse that encases our one-time home still very much alive,” said Mike Richards, from The Unholy Trinity Everton podcast, referencing Anfield’s storied history for Everton. “However, this Everton feels far removed from many of those sides that have gone before them. There’s a belief this Everton attack can ask questions of most, if not all sides in the league.”

Are Everton capable of attacking with the same intent they showed in wins against Brighton and Wolves this season? They have already displayed a front-foot approach at times, though they were left frustrated in a recent draw with Aston Villa after spurning a number of gilt-edged chances. Open-play production remains a talking point for a team that finished 18th for open-play goals in 2024-25, with Ndiaye and other attackers providing a creative spark. Dibling, a club-record summer signing, could offer pace and direct running to stretch Liverpool’s defense, while Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike provide a high-caliber options bank that could alter the balance on matchday.

Looking at the bigger picture, Moyes’ away record against the league’s biggest sides has often defined his tenure. In the last 10 visits to Anfield under the Scotsman, Everton have managed just five goals and converted a fraction of their chances, underscoring how difficult it has been to breach a Liverpool defense that will be eager to extend its formidable home run in this fixture. How Moyes sets up his team—whether to press Liverpool high at times or to sit deeper and exploit counterattacking opportunities—will be critical if Everton are to snatch a result at a ground where the hosts have frequently thrived.

Liverpool, for their part, have shown the capacity to win games from behind but remain vulnerable on the defensive side at moments this season. The champions let two-goal leads slip in three matches, including a midweek European fixture, though they still found a way to win. If Everton can establish an early tempo and maintain discipline under sustained pressure, there could be opportunities to exploit moments when Liverpool momentarily lose focus or concede in transition. At the same time, the Reds’ array of attacking talents—Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike among those in the squad—means Everton will have to be precise in their pressing and patient in their buildup.

There is a belief among supporters that this Everton side is moving in the right direction, and that aligns with the players on the field. The result may hinge on a combination of evasive pressing, quick transitions, and the ability to convert chances when they arise. If Moyes can craft a plan that leverages Everton’s depth and speed, there is a pathway to ending the Anfield curse in this era of Merseyside football.

Analysts emphasize that this derby will likely follow a familiar pattern: a tightly contested opening period, a flurry of action around the box as both teams push for an early advantage, and a late stretch where fitness and concentration will decide matters. The outcome will not only affect the Serie standings and local bragging rights but could also shape the momentum of both clubs as they navigate the early weeks of the campaign.

In the end, the test for Moyes and Everton is clear: translate potential into points at a venue that has long been unkind to them, while contending with a Liverpool side that can be ruthless when required and opportunistic in the moments that matter. Whether this is the moment that historic droughts are broken or another chapter added to a storied rivalry remains to be decided on the field.