There's been a huge change in Merseyside in the last year. Liverpool were all conquering and of course won the league only their second since 1990. But it felt like a statement win for the Reds given that Jürgen Klopp had departed and Arne Slot had won the title on his first attempt. As usual Everton had to look on, in the shadows and at a distance. In fact at the very beginning of January Everton were looking very likely to be relegated under Sean Dyche. However the club made the right choice at the right time and sacked Dyche for former manager David Moyes, someone whose first stint at the club lasted a cool 11 years. Since then Moyes has steered Everton out of relegation worries ending last season comfortably. In this one and almost halfway through the campaign Everton are in sixth place, it has to feel like a minor miracle for long suffering fans. It wasn't just that their local rivals were better, it was that their local rivals seemed light years ahead of the game and a footballing project to bring trophies and success to the club. However seven months on from Liverpool's title win roles have been reversed. Okay Everton are not going to win the league this season and Liverpool may well find form and move past them later in the season but could anyone from last season expect Everton to be so high up in sixth after 15 games and for Liverpool to be in 9th place?
It's incredible to think that the champions have already lost six games this season and that is compounded by the fact that they brought in £400m of talent in the summer. It's often quoted that Everton's spending was out of control in the mid 2010s but even if they reacted, the 400m figure it was over several seasons not several weeks. Huge summer signings such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have failed to deliver although only a fool would write them off and one suspects long term they will be just fine. We all know Isak's quality from watching Newcastle last season and German international Wirtz is showing some hints of his quality, he will get better. This past weekend felt like a huge moment for Liverpool though when they were pegged back from 2-0 up against Leeds to eventually draw 3-3. We have seen time and again this Liverpool side cannot keep a lead and there is a real weakness and confidence crisis within the club. It feels like in a sense they are falling apart when their star player Mohamed Salah, whose form has been poor, lets out an outburst to waiting journalists. His English is very good at throwing out a line like he feels like he's been thrown under the bus. This type of speech has surely marked the end of Salah's career with Liverpool and with it a long kiss goodbye to the English Premier League. Make no mistake Salah deserves his status as one of the greats to have graced the league but his quality has practically deserted him. He's come out this past weekend looking like a prima donna and with a me me me attitude which seems to fit like a self entitled glove of the modern footballer. It feels like a let down for such a skilled player who always came across as quiet and humble and one of the good guys. Just think how young fans may now view Salah as they weep in their bedrooms as it's inevitable that he will leave the club. But when will this be? Salah is soon off to the African Nations Cup and so Liverpool will be without his services for a month. Salah's body language says he wants an exit now. He has also put pressure on Slot by revealing that he has invited his mother to Liverpool's next game this weekend which is at home to Brighton. Does Slot dare to drop Salah again? Liverpool still need a good Salah and perhaps the best outcome for them would be to keep him until at least the end of the season. However it is clear that the Saudi League is waiting and Salah is still worth big money especially given that last year he signed a two year extended contract. That seems like a gift to Liverpool now. All good things come to an end but seeing Salah exit through the back door after all he has done for the club just seems wrong and very blunt. How are we supposed to be invested in our clubs and players if, at the end, it becomes just hollow?
As for Everton after years of uncertainty the club look like they are in a good place. There have been speed bumps along the way. We only have to remember David Moyes selection for the Wolves game in the Carabao Cup. Did the Scotsman need a reminder that it's been 30 years since Everton won a trophy? It feels even worse now as we head into December and Wolves are still without a win in the league and have just 2 points. But on the flip side is how Everton under Moyes have some self belief back. It's interesting to note that Moyes has managed 37 games with the Toffees since January, granted these include a couple of cup games but if we add up the wins and draws as points we come to a points total of 58 with one game spare. Given Everton's recent woes a 58 point projected season would be very welcome. Currently the club are aiming for that very figure it would be a huge improvement and completely justifies Moyes second term with the club. So football can change quickly but it has been interesting to see the changing fortunes for these historic Merseyside clubs in the last six months. It would be very interesting to see if Everton can hold off Liverpool and actually finish in front of them at the end of the season. To do that to the current champions would be one of the very big surprises of the season.
The World Cup draw was made and the first reaction is to remember just how many games there will be in the revised format. There will be a staggering 72 games in the group stages alone, there were only 64 games in the whole of the 2022 edition. Overall there will be over 100 games played in five weeks. Now if you love your World Cup and international games this may well up being quite a feast of football that's easy to get. However in terms of competitive football there will be less in jeopardy. It means that some teams especially in the group stages could be on cruise control because in many instances finishing in 3rd place still means you qualify from the group. Because of FIFA's insistence on 48 teams it also means perhaps for the first time ever there is no group of death. There are too many pot 3 teams involved in order to bulk up the competition. Some media suggested that Scotland's group is the group of death. Granted Brazil are in but the group is rounded off by Morocco and Haiti, hardly a group of death to be terrified about.
As for England, their group looks like a breeze with Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Croatia may offer a slight test for England but the other nations should not. If all goes to plan though England will absolutely deserve to be champions if they find their path against possible opposition like Mexico (in Mexico), Brazil, Argentina, Spain and France. However football normally isn't that easy to predict but this doesn't look like being an easy and successful tournament for England they will be up against it. The manager remains bullish and no doubt England have a very talented team. Let's take a look at the very latest odds given the recent group stage draw.
To win the 2026 World Cup: Spain 6.00, England 6.50, Argentina 8.50, Brazil 8.50, France 9.00
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