After a mildly disappointing result at Manchester City, the Merseyside Derby looms on the horizon. I say that the result against City was mildly disappointing because they were expected to beat us. What I didn’t expect was the emergence of City’s biggest summer transfer: Howard Webb, from Manchester United. I wasn’t aware that he had stopped being Alex Ferguson’s towel boy. Regardless, Saturday proved that he was willing to do whatever it took to unlock Everton’s (admittedly) defensive-minded formation. Quick yellow cards to Jack Rodwell (for a clean challenge on Silva) and Neville (still don’t know what he did, Silva dove) foiled our plan of making City’s life in midfield difficult. But whatever, that game is behind us.

In front of us are our fiercest rivals, the team that every Evertonian is taught to loathe. In terms of Premier League form, the RS have won three out of the first six matches this year. However, the beginning of this season has rubbed the sheen off of ‘King Kenny’ to some degree, as the RS picked up consecutive losses to Stoke and Spurs. Regardless, the RS will be coming into this match with confidence because they won the Champions League in 2005. They’ll also be hoping to see their favorite alleged DJ boxer get more of a run-out after short appearances against Brighton and Wolves. Oh yeah, and the RS’s avid teammate-golfer has returned from his Roberto Mancini-imposed exile in Cardiff.

That’s enough of thinking about them, on to the Pride of Merseyside. Numerous Evertonians were disappointed with the negative tactics against Manchester City. In some quarters, Everton was being called the dirtiest team in the Premier League. Honestly, that’s not an epithet that I have a problem with. There’s a difference between being dirty because you’re undisciplined and being called dirty because you play a combative style in the midfield. This combative style and the prospect of using it against the RS is making me giddy as I write this. Honestly, I didn’t think that the strategy last weekend was a mistake. If we tried to play football at the City of Etihad Stadium, we’d have gotten blown off the pitch à la Tottenham five-to-one-spur. I think we would have done fine had Howard Webb not decided to try to get his baldy head on a ‘Welcome to Manchester’ sign.

Saturday, we’ll see more impetus going forward even if we’ll still be running a 4-5-1. We’ll want to put pressure on Charlie Adam because he’s a yellow card magnet and tends to give the ball away in bad positions. Also, we will target the RS’s questionable centerback pairing: Carragher has been showing his age recently and I think he’ll struggle to stay on the field this match. Everton has been fairly solid defensively thus far, which marks a change from the beginnings of the past three seasons. Still, I’m worried about dealing with the RS on the counter, as they’ve added some players with legitimate pace. Tony Hibbert (or whoever plays at right back) will be key if we are to win. Also, though I’m happy to see that the man with the ruined face has not figured into Dalglish’s plans much this season; he’s always a threat in the Derby.

Like most Evertonians, I love and hate the Derby in equal measure. We could win and be able to grin derisively at the kopites until the winter. At the same time, we could be forced to bear the shame of letting that team defeat us at Goodison Park.

Predictions:

Everton’s XI to start: Timmy H., Distin, Jags, Bainsey, Hibbo, Fellaini, Rodwell, Ossie, Coleman, Cahill, Saha (subs will be Drenthe, Vellios and Heitinga)

Red Cards: Since this fixture features the greatest number of red cards of any since the beginning of the Premier League, I’m expecting some fireworks. As noted earlier, I could see Carragher picking up a red. He’s had it coming for a while, especially after that performance in the 2010 Derby at that place across Stanley Park. If it gets feisty, Charlie Adam could easily go off with a second yellow for a late challenge. On our side, Fellaini is always primed for a red card in the Derby.

Result: Everton 2-1 The RS

Goals from Timmy ‘Post-WWII Derby Legend’ Cahill and Leighton Baines. Suarez will score for them.

For your pre-match viewing pleasure:

Lee Carsley’s Derby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cNt76G4mIQ

Duncan Ferguson’s first goal for Everton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rcXdZpdJ6I

Dan Gosling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghelXeWS5JY (look how short Bainsey’s hair is)

A new take on a classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYv7qATJ8Co (stuck in my head now)

Let’s have it. Up the Toffees!

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