“With Newcastle, with Chelsea, even with Valencia in the past we play against Liverpool,” said Rafa Benitez. Yet as he becomes the first manager since the 19th century to lead both clubs in a Merseyside derby, this will be a game unlike those. “Now with Everton it is different, it is special,” said the Spaniard. “Here the passion is massive. Living in the city, I know that.”
He led Liverpool for six years, 350 games and one unforgettable Champions League triumph but if Wednesday is about their shared past, the more pertinent part is about his present with Everton. Rewind a couple of months and only Liverpool had more points. Now Everton have gone seven games without a win, taking a lone point from the last six and failing to score in the three most recent.
In contrast, Liverpool have won their last three games by an aggregate score of 10-0. Benitez has never been such an underdog in this fixtures but he sees a reunion as a chance to rejuvenate Everton’s campaign.
“We start the season, we were doing really well and everyone was happy,” he said. “Now everyone starts to question everything.” But he senses that victory could be catalytic; for them, and perhaps for him, after a tide has turned. “If we get three points, it could be a massive change in our season,” he said. “We have a bad run now but it is an opportunity to improve everything for the rest of the season.”
To do that, he is calling upon the supporters who barracked him in his Liverpool days and booed after defeat to Brentford on Sunday. “The fans are intelligent; they know we need them,” said Benitez. “They are crucial and the main thing. If we create a good atmosphere, anything can happen.” A bad one, however, could be ominous for him.
It is a moot point how much the dissent stems from the controversial appointment of Benitez and the recent slide and how much it reflects an extended period of underachievement. “I can understand the frustration from the fans because we want to do well and for some years we have not been improving at the level they deserve,” said Benitez. “We share this frustration.”
Brentford 1 Everton 0: player ratings
BRENTFORD RATINGS: Alvaro Fernandez - 7: Important stop from Rondon in the first half but no other serious saves to make. Needs to work on kicking skills, though, which were erratic at times. Reuters
Charlie Goode - 6: First Premier League start and decent game although lucky not to concede a penalty just before break. More luck just after half-time when caught in possession but Rondon couldn’t capitalise. Has a dangerous long-throw in his armoury. Reuters
Pontus Jansson - 6: The Bees captain was too easily beaten by Rondon’s turn but rescued by his goalkeeper. Harsh booking in second half for telling Digne in no uncertain terms to get up off the floor. PA
Ethan Pinnock - 7: Headed chance from long throw straight at Pickford just before half-hour mark and was the regular target for balls into the Everton box. Helped keep Rondon relatively quiet. PA
Frank Onyeka - 6: Kicked in the face by Townsend to earn the Bees a penalty and opening goal after referee reviewed incident. Booked for clipping heels of Gordon. Reuters
SUBS: Shandon Baptiste – (On for Norgaaard 70’) 5: Nothing of note after coming on as Brentford struggled to keep possession in second half. Reuters
Yoane Wissa – (On for Canos 87’) N/A. One weak shot straight at goalkeeper. PA
Seamus Coleman - 7: Good performance from the Everton captain. One surging run and cross after the break that eventually landed in front of Rondon whose volley was blocked. PA
Michael Keane - 7: Assured game from the centre-half who, along with defensive partner Godfrey, helped keep threat of Toney and Mbeumo well under control. Reuters
Lucas Digne - 6: One poor header in first half gifted chance to Mbuemo that he wasted and one woeful free-kick from distance that went high and wide. Annoyed Brentford fans with what they perceived as play-acting after break. Reuters
Allan - 7: Brazilian seemed to welcome having Doucoure back alongside him in midfield. Worked hard defensively and offensively. Like Everton in general, though not in the form showed at start of season. Reuters
Alex Iwobi - 5: Nice interchange of passes with Gordon to set-up Rondon’s big first-half chance. First-time shot straight at keeper on the hour mark but produced little else. PA
Solomon Rondon - 6: Great turn to get himself space in box soon after Bees opener but Fernandez blocked his shot. Headed tough chance wide in last 10 minutes. Still striving for fitness and sharpness but a better show today even with service at a minimum. Getty
But the fact Everton’s last derby win at home was in 2010 illustrates the underlying problems; as Benitez said: “Rome wasn’t built in a day so we are working on that.”
Liverpool drew 2-2 at Goodison Park last year, but it arguably finished their title defence. Virgil van Dijk’s season reached a premature end in October with a cruciate ligament injury. Thiago Alcantara’s debut campaign was interrupted for two months after a lunge from Richarlison that brought him a red card. Jordan Pickford escaped without the same punishment for his still worse challenge on Van Dijk.
“It is difficult to forget or ignore something like that,” said Jurgen Klopp, who believes Merseyside derbies can be too physical. “We are all human beings.”
The Dutchman tends to be the calmest character around but Klopp will still urge his side to retain their composure amid the noise. “You need a cool head,” he said. “We are still an emotional team but we have to use your emotions in the right way.”
If Van Dijk has not been quite as imperious since his return, Klopp launched into a staunch defence of the centre-back. “People are quick if things are not like they are but these kinds of judgments make no sense,” he added. “He has been absolutely brilliant since he came back. If some things are not like they have been it is only a matter of time.”
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0: player ratings
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7: The Brazilian made two good saves in the first half but was largely a spectator for the rest of the time. He was sharp whenever he was called into action. Getty
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7: The 23-year-old got up and down the line at will and sparked a series of attacks. He was involved in the build-up to two of the goals. AFP
Ibrahima Konate - 6: The Frenchman looked nervous in the windy conditions but got better as the game went on. He produced a sliding block to stop an effort from Armstrong. PA
Virgil van Dijk - 7: The Dutchman cruised through the match and was never unduly worried. He dispatched his goal with the aplomb of a striker. AFP
Andrew Robertson - 9: The Scot was on top form and caused havoc down the left. His excellent cross created the opening goal and that set the tone for his performance. Reuters
Fabinho - 7: The Brazilian majors in the less glamorous aspects of the game – breaking up attacks and protecting the defence. He creates the platform that gives the team the freedom to play. Getty
Thiago Alcantara - 8: The 30-year-old was guilty of an early lapse when he was caught in possession on the edge of his own box but he recovered, passed beautifully and scored the third goal. EPA
Jordan Henderson - 7: The captain was energetic and recycled possession quickly, releasing the forwards and leaving opponents trailing. Getty
Mohamed Salah - 7: There was no goal for the Egyptian but he treated the defence with contempt. He curled a shot wide and might have scored when clean through but he radiated class. AFP
Diogo Jota - 8: The Portuguese scored twice and could have had a couple more. He menaced the defence. AP
Sadio Mane - 7: The Senegalese caused trouble for Southampton right from the start. He played a significant part in creating the opening goal and threatened throughout. PA
SUBS: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - (On for Thiago 59') 7: The 28-year-old sent a barrage of crosses into the area. He popped up in scoring positions but his best opportunity went straight at the goalkeeper. AFP
James Milner - (On for Henderson 67') 7: The 35-year-old put in his usual solid, somewhat abrasive, performance. AP
:Takumi Minamino - (On for Jota 81') N/A. The Japanese went looking for the ball and maintained the intensity in the midfield. AP
SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Alex McCarthy - 4: It was not a good afternoon for the goalkeeper. The defence left him exposed from the start. He made a fine save from Mane but it was a lone highlight on a bad day. Getty
Lyanco - 3: The Brazilian kept getting sucked upfield following Jota. It left acres of room behind for the Liverpool attackers to run into. He was more secure when the team switched to a back four after half-time. EPA
Jan Bednarek - 2: The Pole struggled with the pace and movement of the front three. He was given a yellow card for a studs-up challenge on Mane and made way for Redmond at half-time. AFP
Mohammed Salisu - 4: The Ghanaian was not strong enough nor quick enough to deal with Salah. He chased the ball before the second goal and left space for Liverpool to exploit. PA
Tino Livramento - 2: The 22-year-old was bamboozled by Liverpool’s passing for the opening goal. He never recovered and Robertson and Mane tormented him all afternoon. EPA
James Ward-Prowse - 3: The 27-year-old was anonymous. He did little going forward and failed to disrupt Liverpool's forward motion. Getty
Oriol Romeu - 3: The Spaniard was always a step or two behind the opposition midfield and offered little creativity. He was careless in possession should have done more to prevent Van Dijk scoring. Reuters
Romain Perraud - 3: The Frenchman was swamped by Salah, Henderson and Alexander-Arnold. He was replaced with two minutes left but it was a surprise he lasted that long. PA
Armando Broja - 5: The Albanian made a strong run from the halfway line and forced Alisson into a good save after shrugging off Konate. He should have done better with the finish. Getty
Adam Armstrong - 4: The striker shot into Konate’s body when it seemed easier to score. He worked hard but barely threatened Alisson’s goal. Getty
Che Adams - 4: The 25-year-old showed for the ball and dropped deep in an attempt to help the midfield. It meant he had little impact up front. He was replaced at half time. AP
SUBS: Nathan Redmond - (On for Bednarek 46') 3: The 27-year old entered the game after half time but did little of note in his 45 minutes on the pitch. PA
Nathan Tella - (On for Adams 46') 6: Provided an injection of energy for the side. He produced a dangerous late cross that none of his team-mates attacked. AFP
Kyle Walker-Peters - (On for Perraud 88') N/A. AFP