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How do Everton get a result at Anfield?

It’s a biannual tradition for any self-respecting Evertonian to dread the derby for 50 weeks of the year, except for the two weeks leading up to the actual games, in which one becomes unreasonably optimistic.

This year, that optimism seems especially unreasonable. After Liverpool's record-breaking transfer window (though they’ll be sure to remind you that their net spend was actually only the second highest), they’re the only Premier League side yet to drop points, after an all too familiar late penalty gifted them a win at Burnley last weekend.

Their run of late wins continued on Wednesday night, when they once again scored in injury time to beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 in their first Champions League fixture of the season.

However, Everton now have the tools to exploit the weaknesses shown by Liverpool this season, and execute a game plan which several teams have tried but none have perfected.

Burnley surprisingly came closest, keeping Liverpool off the scoresheet for 95 minutes of the match. They didn’t reinvent the wheel with their tactics, which consisted of getting all ten outfield players behind the ball in two banks of five and clogging up the passing lanes.

One thing they did do differently was focus on congesting the center of the field to prevent quick linkups between their central players, which in turn meant Liverpool had more opportunities to get crosses in.

New striker Hugo Ekitike isn’t as much of a threat in the air as he is with his feet, so they’re less adept at scoring via that route than they are from quick one-touch play in the centre of the field. Alexander Isak is, so if he’s playing, keeping one of the two central defenders tight to him and not getting drawn out by the movement around him is crucial.

Liverpool’s host of new players are still developing their relationships on the pitch, so they struggled to break down the disciplined Burnley defence. The flicks and dummies their creative talents try aren’t coming off like, unfortunately, they probably will in a few months.

What actually helped Burnley was their poor attack; they had only two touches in the Liverpool box, which in turn meant that Liverpool had few opportunities to break quickly and exploit a defence looking to regain its shape.

If not for a late handball, Burnley would’ve deservedly got away with a point.

By contrast, Bournemouth and Newcastle were great going forward, especially in the second half, where they both created more big chances than Liverpool.

This meant that Liverpool was able to capitalise on tired legs on counterattacks late in the match.

For Everton’s defence, which already lacks pace, it will be even more crucial that the backline doesn’t get pulled out of position if and when Everton get the ball into the Liverpool half. It may actually benefit Everton to hold back a bit when attacking.

Fans may not love it, but if the game is level going into the final stretch, Moyes’s team may do well to sit back and hold out for a point rather than push in the other direction, even when opportunities open themselves up to score.

And opportunities will open up. Liverpool’s defence has been far from perfect this season. Despite sitting top of the league, they’ve kept just one clean sheet and conceded four goals to Everton’s three.

Where they’re most vulnerable is at the full-back position. After losing Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, they added Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez to their ranks, and have been rotating those two along with Andrew Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai at full-back.

Kerkez and Frimpong both excel more in attack than defence, so teams have had success targeting them.

When going forward, Liverpool often leave their two central defenders back in a three with the left-back, either Kerkez or Robertson, while the right back moves into attack.

Playing long balls into the space behind that high line for attackers to run onto has caused the Liverpool back line problems this season.

Everton is one of the best teams in the league at long-balls, ranking third with 24.3 accurate long-balls per match.

Diagonals from Michael Keane or James Tarkowski into the wingers should also be a viable avenue of attack, in addition to giving Everton a quick outball to relieve pressure.

Their full-backs also struggle to defend one-on-ones. Kerkez and Szoboszlai are both ranked in the top 15 for fouls conceded this season, with three each.

Kerkez, especially, has been targeted by opposition wingers; he struggled to deal with Noni Madueke and Anthony Elanga. He often gets too tight to the winger, something Iliman Ndiaye can exploit.

But Everton have multiple players who can win one-on-ones, a stark change from seasons past.

The Toffees have three of the top 20 most fouled players in the Premier League. Jack Grealish has been fouled more than anyone else with 11, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is level at 9th with eight, and Ndiaye is joint-16th with seven.

A game plan consisting of a low block, with long diagonals played out to the wingers to relieve pressure, and letting them run at their defenders, is one that Liverpool will struggle to deal with, and one that Everton are equipped to execute.

However, it’s almost a given that they’ll score late, so the result may hinge on Everton’s performance in the first 70 minutes.

If the Toffees can go into the final 20 minutes with any kind of cushion, which is a big if, a result would be well within grasp for David Moyes’s side.